Warehouse Owner Fighting Rats After Failed Inspections

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A vice president for Hauppauge-based spice warehouse La Flor Spices has called rats infestations a fairly common occurrence in the warehouse biz, but vowed to fight the issue to avoid more failed inspections.

"That's in every warehouse," Dan LaTore said. "The problem is, this is food."

Warehouses that deal in food products are inspected by the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets, which also inspects businesses from supermarkets to smaller meat and seafood shops, pharmacies, convenience stores and gas stations that have markets. La Flor failed three times in 2012, twice when inspectors found rat feces in the warehouse.

"You have to understand," LaTore said. "Everything is closed here. Everything is packaged in plastic jars. With the winter and everything, mice find their way into the warehouse."

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La Flor was cited for rodent droppings in its June 18, 2012 and Dec. 11, 2012 inspections, critical deficiencies that the state deems a health hazard.

Patch accessed the data as part of a region-wide project culling information on grocery store inspections across New York state to create an exclusive interactive map.

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The only retail market to fail inspections in Hauppauge in 2012 was Bravo Supermarket on the Central Islip/Hauppauge border, cited for one critical violation related to dirty, food-stained cutting boards.

LaTore said despite the lack of exposed food in his warehouse, he's taken the issue seriously.

"We have a guy checking the walls every day now," he said. "We have an exterminator that comes in twice a month."

LaFlor, established in 1966, packages spices, marinades and herbal teas that are shipped to retail stores for sale, mainly for the Hispanic market.

The company moved to Hauppauge in 2004, consolidating its Brooklyn and Queens operations into its current 25 Hoffman Ave. warehouse.

LaTore said the company has considered creating a cash-and-carry storefront where people could buy the spices at the warehouse, but decided against it.