Last year, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) discovered twenty-five illegal drop sites used by the Sysco Corporation to store thousands of food items, including perishables like meat and dairy products, without refrigeration for hours at a time. Food was stored on the floor of these outdoor storage units alongside clear signs of pest contamination such as living insects, rodent droppings, and rodent traps. Food from these storage units was later delivered to restaurants, hotels, and even schools and hospitals, endangering unsuspecting and potentially vulnerable consumers.
According to company records and inside sources, these practices had been happening for years before they were discovered. The Sysco Corporation has been sued by the counties of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara and will pay a settlement figure of $19.4 million. The company asserts that as of September 2013, its illegal drop sites are no longer in use, and that it continues to evaluate and improve food safety and quality assurance practices throughout the company.
— Katie Heil
