U.S. Marshals seized more than 1,500 cases of contaminated human and dog food products from a distribution warehouse in Ellsworth, Wis., federal officials said Wednesday, Feb. 3.

            According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a wide range of products stored under unsanitary conditions were seized from Mid-States Closeouts in Ellsworth, which is located in western Wisconsin. The products were seized under a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

            Officials said the products removed were all FDA-regulated human and animal food susceptible to rodent and pest contamination or other filth. The products are adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they have been held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with filth, the FDA said.

            Reached for comment Thursday morning, FDA spokesman Tom Gasparoli said that the seized items included cases of individually bagged candy, jelly beans, biscuits and cookies, cappuccino mixes and tea, various snack items, and pet treats. No brand names were disclosed.

           Contacted by telephone Thursday by NN.N, Pierce County public health director Sue Galoff said an investigation is under way, but deferred further comment to FDA officials. "At this time, we have started an investigation and if there is any legal process to abate or correct any public health violations, that will follow in the future. We are in the mist of an investigation at this time."

            Mid-States Closeouts officials could not be reached for comment.

           During an FDA inspection of Mid-States Closeouts conducted in November and December 2009, the agency said it found widespread and active rodent infestation, numerous gnawed packages of human and animal food, rodent excreta pellets on, in, and around food packages and rodent nesting material. The facility also had structural defects permitting easy pest access to the entire facility, and rodent harborage areas near the warehouse, officials said.

            “The violations at Mid-States Closeouts are widespread and significant,” said Michael Chappell, the FDA's acting associate commissioner, Office of Regulatory Affairs. “The FDA took this action because the company failed to provide adequate safeguards to ensure that products they hold for sale remain free of contamination.”

            The FDA said it has not received any reports of human or pet illness or death associated with consumption of food distributed by Mid-States Closeouts. However, the seized products were in permeable packages and held under conditions that could compromise the food's quality, according to FDA.

            Consumers can report problems with FDA-regulated products to their district office consumer complaint coordinator. Visit www.fda.gov for more information