Food Warehouse in Pittsburgh Cited by FDA over “Significant Violations”

The NYWP Enterprise LLC food warehouse along Island Avenue in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania is facing “serious health code violations” according to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
A warning letter from the FDA was sent to NYWP Enterprise’s co-owner on December 9, 2014.  The letter detailed several violations by date including:

• October 15, 2014-inside a cooler there was “an apparent active rodent nest containing multiple rodents”  found in a box containing “thawing rib meat.”
• October 15, 2014-carcasses of rodents were found on the first floor of the facility.
• October 15, 16, 20, 21-birds were seen flying throughout the warehouse.
• October 15, 16, 2014-in a cooler with cartons of pineapples, there appeared to be “gnaw holes,” and “nesting material,” along with “rodent excreta.”
• October 15, 2014-plumbing was not properly installed and agents found standing water in the facility.

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, violations against this facility date back to 2013.  The Asian restaurant supplier claims that they “corrected” all violations.
The Allegheny County Health Department Director Karen Hacker told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette that the facility was inspected again in November 2014 and no “major problems” were found.

Food Safety and Violations

Food safety is a major issue not only for food suppliers, restaurants and grocery stores, but it is an issue inside people’s homes.  There are things that you can do to keep yourself and loved ones from suffering personal injuries due to a food illness, including:

• Always check expiration and “Use By” dates on food products before purchasing items at the store.
• Keep track of when you buy items in your refrigerator and throw anything out that has an odd odor or look.  Use the old adage “When in doubt, throw it out.”
• Label food items that you put into your freezer.  Products do not last as long as you think they will just because they are frozen.
• Be careful when handling raw chicken or meat.  Clean all countertops and surfaces that you used during food preparation.
• Do not use a wood cutting board when preparing meat.  Bacteria can grow on this porous surface.
• When you are baking or cooking meat, make sure it reaches a safe temperature before serving it to others.
• Remember to wash your hands.

Sometimes you can follow all of these precautions and still end up suffering from a food-borne illness that could send you to the hospital for emergency treatment.  You could have a personal injury lawsuit against the grocery store or food manufacturer if there was something wrong with the food product.