Inspections: Rodent Issue Lingers At Charlie's Deli

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Bed-Stuy's Charlie's Deli has been cited five times in a row for issues related to rats and mice, according to state inspection data.

The deli and market was most recently flagged when workers from the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets found up to 200 rodent droppings in the basement storeroom, along with several holes in the wall.

A worker at the store declined to comment on the inspection results, and said the manager wasn't available.

Charlie's is one of the 522 businesses we analyzed in Bed-Stuy Patch as part of a statewide effort to map grocery store inspection results. See the full interactive map above.

The store at 1492 Fulton St. has been battling a rodent issue since at least October 2011, when inspectors also found up to 200 droppings. Then, in a January 2012 visit, inspectors actually found two live rats in the basement, and a mix of rat and mouse droppings on the floor.

Three months later, in April 2012, inspectors found up to 1,000 rat droppings in the same place. When they returned in October 2012, they only spotted up to 100 pieces of rodent feces on the ground.

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While the prevalence of rodents in New York City is by no means a surprise – inspectors discovered rodent-defiled food in 162 inspections in Brooklyn in 2012 – the concern over rats, and the diseases they carry, have lawmakers looking for stricter penalties.

State Sen. Jeff Klein, D-Bronx/Westchester, has introduced a bill in Albany that aims to set up a three-strikes system to close repeat offenders.

“Since 2000, the department has hired additional inspectors and is inspecting supermarkets more frequently,” the bill reads. “But far too many stores are still being allowed to fail four or more inspections before being closed down.”

RELATED: Pols Push to Shutter Vermin-Infested Food Marts