A federal court has ordered a permanent injunction against Gold Star Distribution, Inc. and its owner, Bassam Abu Samrah, following an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota entered the consent decree on September 21, 2026, halting the company’s distribution of food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics until operations meet federal legal requirements.
The FDA investigation revealed persistent insanitary conditions at the company’s Minneapolis warehouse, including severe rodent and pest infestations. Inspectors observed live and dead rodents, gnaw marks, package damage, and rodent excrement throughout the facility. In a follow-up inspection in November and December 2025, officials found nine live rodents, 17 dead rodents, eight live birds, one dead bird, and five live worms. Laboratory analyses confirmed the presence of rodent urine, excreta, and hairs in product packaging.
According to the complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the FDA, the defendants violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by causing products to become adulterated while held for sale. The violations included insanitary conditions that could have caused filth contamination and failure to store drugs according to current good manufacturing practice requirements.
State partners, including the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, also conducted inspections. The MDA inspected the facility 26 times between 2013 and 2025, issuing notices of embargo and revoking the defendants’ food wholesale license. The Minnesota Board of Pharmacy issued a cease and desist order and administratively detained over-the-counter drugs in December 2025.
The consent decree requires the defendants to retain an independent expert to develop and implement sanitation control and drug storage plans. They must eliminate all pests and filth from the facility, complete renovations to prevent future pest entry, and destroy all FDA-regulated products in their possession under FDA supervision. The company must also undergo comprehensive inspections by an independent expert, an independent pest control company, and the FDA before resuming operations. Following the 2025 inspection, Gold Star voluntarily recalled certain products that may have been contaminated with filth.
