Rats Devour $800 of Gourmet Meats Shipped via USPS, Business Claims No Reimbursement

A New York City butcher shop is seeking reimbursement after a shipment of expensive cured meats, valued at $800, was allegedly ravaged by rats during its journey through the U.S. Postal Service. The incident has left the store owner and the meat supplier frustrated with the postal service's response.

The delivery to Six60One, a kosher butcher shop on the Upper West Side, arrived this summer with a large hole in the box, revealing signs of animal infestation and feces. Inside, the vacuum-sealed packages of gourmet meats, including prosciutto and cured beef, showed evidence of being torn into and nibbled. Some of the products retailed for as much as $30 for a 2-ounce package.

"It's disgusting! You can see the hole from the outside and it stinks — inside there's rat poop and whatever else," said Jason Felix, the assistant manager at Six60One. He stated that the damaged goods were immediately discarded. The total loss amounted to $808 worth of product from Ben's Best Charcuterie.

According to Doug Lapin, CEO of Ben's Best Charcuterie, the company had refunded the customer, Six60One, but was subsequently denied an insurance claim by USPS. Lapin expressed frustration, stating, "USPS rejecting a claim is very frustrating. They have not given any valid reason. They are part of the government so cannot be sued… They should pay the claim."

While the company has experienced product theft before, Lapin noted that this was the first instance of rodent damage. The package's tracking data indicated a four-day journey from Miami to Manhattan, involving five different USPS locations, including a night at a Midtown distribution center due to a delivery delay.

A USPS representative informed The Post that they could not locate a claim filed by Ben's Best Charcuterie concerning this particular issue.