Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Outbreaks & Recalls on June 3, 2025
The FDA just issued a food safety alert for products coming from Pan-African Food Distributors in Louisville, Kentucky. The facility housed shelf-stable food products including infant nutritional cereals, baked goods and other products imported and distributed by Pan-African Food Distributors Inc. doing business as (DBA) East Africa Boutique LLC.
What’s the reason for the alert and recall?
Rodent infestation.
A rodent infestation in a food distribution facility is not just a cringy situation. The consequences are much farther reaching. Rodent infestation in this type of building can cause a series of health and safety risks.
How was the problem discovered? Which products are included in this recall? What types of illnesses can rodent infestation cause? What should you do if you became sick after eating any of these recalled foods?
Let’s explore!
The rodent infestation was discovered during routine FDA inspection activities during the May 2025 Louisville, Kentucky distribution center inspection.
During that inspection, rodent activity and numerous rodent droppings were discovered on multiple product containers.
In addition to the FDA’s request for the firm to issue a voluntary recall, the State of Kentucky also got involved.
According to the FDA alert, the State of Kentucky discovered that the firm was not operating with a required permit. Under the authority of the state, a blanket quarantine of product was also issued. Prohibiting the company from selling those goods.
The firm will be prohibited from reopening until the infestation is completely addressed, and all contaminated food has been disposed of.
The FDA alert indicates that Pan-African Food Distributors Inc dba East Africa Boutique LLC is cooperating with the agency and will voluntarily recall these products.
No recall has been posted. However, a preliminary list of products and lot numbers are available.
The FDA urges retailers to not sell and consumers to check their homes for the following potentially contaminated products.
More information about where these products were sold and distributed and additional products involved may become available soon.
Unsanitary conditions, like a rodent infestation, can pose a serious public health risk. Concerns of cross-contamination and filth can spread a number of germs leading to serious illnesses.
Rodent infestation may cause leptospirosis, hantavirus infection, salmonellosis, yersiniosis, E. coli infection, or rat-bite fever.
Leptospirosis is a dangerous illness caused by contact or consuming something contaminated with infected rat urine.
This illness often begins with flu-like symptoms. Symptoms like high fever, red eyes, headache, chills, muscle aches, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, yellow skin or eyes (jaundice), and rash may come one suddenly. However, some people experiencing leptospirosis show no symptoms at all. While others may have internal bleeding or even organ damage.
Severe leptospirosis (Weil’s syndrome) often begins three to ten days later. This occurs when the illness leaves the bloodstream and enters other parts of the body.
Common symptoms may include coughing up blood, chest pain, trouble breathing, jaundice, black, tarry poop, blood in your urine, decreased urination, and/or flat, red spots on your skin that look like a rash (petechiae).
Hantavirus is more often associated with inhaling rodent urine and feces. However, potential contamination on packages from Pan-African Food Distributors may still pose some risk.
One of the more common conditions associated with hantavirus is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). Early symptoms may begin anywhere from one week to eight weeks after contact.
Common symptoms include fatigue, fever, and muscle aches. Some may experience headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain).
After a week or two, other symptoms may develop. Including intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever/chills, nausea, and/or blurred vision.
Serious complications may include low blood pressure, lack of blood flow, internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure.
Salmonellosis is the illness associated with Salmonella infection. Common symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever.
People usually begin feeling sick anywhere from 6 hours to 6 days after exposure. Most of the time people feel better within a week.
In some cases, the germ can get into the bloodstream and cause additional, potentially life-threatening complications. You may develop arterial infections (infected aneurysms, endocarditis, or a condition known as reactive arthritis that can persist long-term).
Yersiniosis is the illness associated with Yersinia bacteria. While most commonly associated with pigs, rodents are also carriers of this harmful germ.
Symptoms may vary depending on the age of the person infected.
For example, young children often experience fever, pain in the abdomen (belly area), and diarrhea (sometimes bloody). Sometimes sore throat.
Adults, on the other hand, may also experience fever. But their abdominal pain is on the right side of the body. A symptom also associated with an inflamed or infected appendix.
Escherichia coli, or E. coli can cause serious bacterial infection. Depending on the strain involved. Since we are talking about risk factors here, let’s discuss the harmful ones.
E. coli symptoms often include diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps. There is usually little or no fever present, and in some cases an infected individual may experience no symptoms at all. Most of the time illness is resolved in five to ten days and a normally healthy individual often recovers without the need for medical intervention.
But unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Certain higher risk groups are more likely to become infected with E. coli bacteria if exposed and experience more serious symptoms if infected. Those under five years of age and the elderly are most susceptible to these factors. These individuals are more likely to experience a serious and life-threatening complication known as HUS.
Most cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome in the U.S. are caused by E. coli infections.
During infection, sometimes the bacteria leave the digestive system and enter other parts of the body. When in the blood stream, E. coli destroys red blood cells, which clog the filtering tubes in the kidneys.
About a third of those with hemolytic uremic syndrome have abnormal kidney functions for many years later. Some may require long-term dialysis.
Another 8% of those who develop hemolytic uremic syndrome will experience other life-long complications such as high blood pressure, blindness, seizures, paralysis, and the effects of having part of their bowel removed.
If you have purchased recalled Pan-African Food Distributors products, there are a few things you will need to do.
If you have purchased recalled products from Pan-African Food Distributors, it is important to clean and sanitize anything that may have come in contact with the packages. Wipe down shelves, packaging of other products in the area. Be sure to wash your hands afterward.
If you have become sick after eating these products, the FDA advises you to seek medical attention. Discuss your exposure to your healthcare provider so that an appropriate diagnosis can be considered more quickly to expedite treatment for your specific illness.
You may want to get advice from a Food Poisoning Lawyer. Especially if you have become sick after eating foods subject to this recall.
An experienced Food Poisoning Lawyer can help answer questions you may have. And even some you may not have thought of.
If you have been impacted by this Pan-African Food Distributors recall and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help.
Call (833) 330-3663 for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation. Or click here to send an email.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)