According to the Wisconsin AP, the FDA has taken custody of 1500 cases of food from a Wisconsin warehouse in Ellsworth. The FDA sent in U.S. Marshalls to confiscate the food citing filthy conditions. The food was for both human and animal consumption. The Tuesday seizure involved warehouses belonging to Mid-States Closeouts and was prompted by FDA investigations during November and December in which a large number of rodents were discovered. No illnesses or deaths have been reported in connection with food items found in this warehouse.
The CDC states that food contaminated with rodent urine or feces can carry Salmonella, Leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, or Tularemia. Salmonella food poisoning can cause diarrhea and other stomach ailments. Leptospirosis is a bacteria which, according to the CDC can cause “high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash.” Rat-bite fever is rare in the United States and is caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis. Symptoms of Rat-bite fever usually include fever and pain. In regards to Tularemia, which can be deadly, the CDC states that it can involve high fever, “sore throat, mouth ulcers, tonsillitis, and swelling of lymph glands in the neck.”
