Court Halts Gold Star Distribution Operations Over Persistent Insanitary Storage Conditions

The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Gold Star Distribution, Inc., and owner Bassam Abu Samrah, according to the FDA. The September 21, 2026, order prohibits receiving, holding for sale or distributing FDA-regulated foods, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics at current or future locations until compliance requirements are met.

During a November–December 2025 follow-up inspection, FDA investigators observed nine live and 17 dead rodents, eight live birds, one dead bird and five live worms. Laboratory analyses confirmed rodent urine, excreta, hairs and other evidence of contamination in product packaging. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture had inspected the facility 26 times between 2013 and 2025; the FDA had conducted five inspections before its 2025 inspection.

The complaint alleged that insanitary storage adulterated products and that drug storage failed to meet current good manufacturing practice requirements. Gold Star voluntarily recalled certain potentially contaminated products after the 2025 inspection. The announcement does not identify patient illnesses or establish contamination with specific pathogens.

Before resuming operations, the defendants must implement FDA-approved sanitation and drug storage plans, eliminate pests, renovate the facility and destroy FDA-regulated products in their possession under FDA supervision. Independent inspections and written FDA notification of apparent compliance are also required. For clinicians, the action concerns supply-chain product safety rather than evidence of a documented outbreak.