U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition
Inspecting Incoming Food Materials
Industry Activities Staff; Revised January 26, 1999

Look for evidence of insect, rodent and bird activity


Finding the presence of insects (Photo a), rodent excreta, bird feathers or droppings or rodent urine (Photo b -- using ultraviolet light) is evidence products were exposed to contamination making them unfit for food. DO NOT ACCEPT SHIPMENTS CONTAINING INSECT, RODENT, OR OTHER FILTH.

 image of vermin-infested truck

REASONS:

1. Insects, rodents and birds are often carriers of disease-producing bacteria and parasites. Rodent excreta (Photo c) or droppings and urine can transfer these organisms to food products.

2. Products may have been contaminated with this filth before being shipped to your plant.

3. FDA will seize products stored in your warehouse if they are exposed to or contain insect or rodent or other filth. The filth does not have to be found in exposed products to make the product subject to legal actions.

photo of insect-infested packages
a.
photo of urine-stained container
b.		 photo of excreta-contaminated container
c.
NOTIFY YOUR SUPERVISOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU FIND EVIDENCE OF INSECT, RODENT, BIRD OR OTHER CONTAMINATION IN THE SHIPMENT.

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Hypertext updated by xxz/rwk 1999-MAR-09