This food is definitely not kosher.
The feds seized more than $1 million of food from a New York manufacturer of popular Kosher jellies and puddings after finding a warehouse overrun by rats and mice, authorities said today.
Agents from the US Food and Drug Administration raided VIP Foods in Ridgewood, Queens – makers of the well-known “Kojel” products – and found live rodents running amok in the facility as well as numerous rat and mouse carcases.
“VIP’s warehouse was a picnic ground for rodents, and the company failed utterly in its obligation to provide food deemed safe for human consumption,” said Loretta Lynch, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
“Those who store, package, and sell the food we serve our families have a responsibility to maintain basic standards of cleanliness in their facilities.”
The firm refused to clean up its act despite numerous warnings over filthy conditions that violated a host of government standards, authorities said.
They also found evidence the rodent hordes were swelling as there were numerous nests hidden in pallets of food, they said.
Containers holding foodstuffs had been gnawed open, officials said, while rodent droppings were “too numerous to count,” officials said.
Brooklyn federal prosecutors say they took the extreme action against the firm to force it to comply with health regulations.
VIP produces blueberry muffin mix, pancake mix, flavored mashed potatoes and chicken soup base as well as pudding and gelatin.
The manufacturer sells its products to restaurants, retirement homes, caterers and retailers.
Efforts to reach company execs late Friday were unsuccessful.
mmaddux@nypost.com