Shortly after a March inspection by FDA investigators, U.S. Marshals confiscated more than $1.5 million of food
ingredients -- the substances seized included sassafras and licorice powder, among many botanicals and herbs -- housed in dirty conditions from American Mercantile Corp. in Memphis, Tenn.

Despite evidence of "extensive rodent and insect infestation" found by investigators in the earlier inspection, the Tennessee firm failed to act, prompting a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court in Memphis leading to the seizure.

Some believe this raid -- prompted by recent food-safety problems in the news connected to peppers and nuts -- maybe the first of many to come from the FDA, and without a warning letter too.

Part of the problem: USA Today reported the FDA has failed to meet its own goals for auditing food-safety inspections done on their behalf by individual states. Food facilities in five states (Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska and Wyoming) were never inspected and four more (Arkansas, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas) reported no data.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration May 7, 2009

NPI Center May 11, 2009

USA Today May 8, 2009