Feds sue NY Chinatown meat distributor for “rat-infested” conditions

A meat distributor in New York Chinatown agreed to close its doors for three years after inspectors say they found meat stored in their warehouse in unsanitary and rat-infested conditions.

A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office says investigators “observed multiple rodents scurrying into a walk-in cooler. One rodent ran out of the cooler and up the leg of a USDA-FSIS investigator. Chew marks were observed on meat and poultry products, and droppings were observed throughout the warehouse, including on the lids of products. Rodent nesting materials and a dead mouse were found in a walk-in freezer.”

AM New York reports the complaint is against Ya Feng Trading, Inc., its owner Linmin Yang, and warehouse manager Kong Ping Ni. It is located at 23 Allen Street in New York.

It has been shut down since December 2022 pending the results of an investigation and risk of enforcement action.

The defendants are also accused of over a four-year period beginning in December 2018 of misbranding various meat products ranging from chicken parts to pork.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office, “Fresh and old rodent droppings were observed throughout the building, including in a walk-in freezer and walk-in cooler that held meat and poultry products. Droppings were observed on the lids of meat and poultry product boxes and beneath pallets holding the products. Some products had gnawing and chewing marks from rodents. Rodent nesting materials and a dead mouse were found in the walk-in freezer.”

“Our inspection personnel and investigators are on the job daily, verifying that establishments are complying with food safety regulations,” said Paul Kiecker, the Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture said to AM NY.. “FSIS remains committed to public health and we will take swift action to protect American consumers.”