FDA Halts Gold Star Distribution Over Rodent Infestation

A federal court has ordered a Minnesota warehouse operator to cease distributing all FDA-regulated products until it fixes severe and persistent insanitary conditions. The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Gold Star Distribution, Inc. and its owner, Bassam Abu Samrah, on September 21, 2026, following a U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation.

"Consumers trust that the products they purchase, whether food, medicine, or everyday household items, have been stored safely and are free from contamination," said Elizabeth Miller, Pharm.D., FDA associate commissioner for inspections and investigations. She stated the agency will act against companies that repeatedly ignore serious violations.

Inspection Findings Reveal Widespread Infestation

The FDA's action follows multiple inspections by the agency and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) dating back to 2013. Prior FDA inspections and many MDA visits cited insanitary conditions linked to rodents, including observations of live and dead rodents, gnaw marks, and excrement throughout the facility.

A follow-up inspection in November and December 2025 revealed the problems were ongoing. Investigators documented a severe infestation, including numerous live and dead rodents, birds, and worms present among stored products.

The specific pest observations from the FDA's 2025 inspection are detailed below:

In addition to the pests themselves, inspectors found numerous rodent excreta pellets, urine stains, gnaw holes, and nesting materials in and around pallets of products. The FDA's laboratory analyses confirmed the presence of rodent urine, urea, excreta, hairs, and gnaw holes on product packaging. The affected items included rice, cat food, drugs, sanitary pads, and cosmetics.

Broader Facility and Regulatory Failures

The insanitary conditions extended beyond the pest infestation. The FDA observed leaking and overflowing refuse near outgoing shipments, gaps and holes in the building's infrastructure, ceiling leaks dripping onto stored products, and significant trash buildup outside the facility.

These conditions caused products to become adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Justice states that drugs were also adulterated because they were not stored according to current good manufacturing practice requirements.

State regulators took parallel actions. In November 2025, the MDA issued a notice of embargo and a cease and desist order covering all food products and operations, and it revoked the company's food wholesale license. The following month, the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy issued a cease and desist order for warehousing and distributing over-the-counter drugs without a required license and administratively detained those drugs. Following the FDA inspection, Gold Star voluntarily recalled certain products that may have been contaminated.

Requirements for Resuming Operations

The consent decree imposes strict requirements before Gold Star and Abu Samrah can resume receiving, holding, or distributing any food, drugs, medical devices, or cosmetics. They are prohibited from these activities at any location until they comply with the law and the decree's terms.

The defendants must first retain an independent expert to develop and implement FDA-approved sanitation control and drug storage plans. They must eliminate all pests and filth from the facility and complete renovations to prevent future pest entry. All FDA-regulated products currently in their possession must be destroyed under FDA supervision.

Finally, the facility must undergo comprehensive inspections by an independent expert, an independent pest control company, and the FDA itself. The defendants must receive written notification from the FDA that they appear to be in compliance before any operations can restart.