Cockroaches and rodent droppings were found by state food-safety investigators at the Commack snack-food processor whose affiliated firm is under federal investigation for Salmonella-tainted pistachios.
Setton Foods International in Commack failed its sanitary inspection last month when the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets conducted a routine probe. It is the firm's first failure since 2000 -- as far back as available records show. Under its Setton Farms label, the Commack processor manufactures a range of chocolate-coated items, including almonds, pistachios, raisins and peanuts.
Two "critical deficiencies" were found: live cockroaches - one crawling on a rack in the room where chocolate is stored; the other spotted on a wall in the room where employees take breaks. Dead roaches and dried rodent feces were found elsewhere in the facility. Rodents are carriers of salmonella.
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Source: Newsday