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Employers › NJ

Retail Trade · Paterson, NJ

Rico Foods, Inc.

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Rico Foods, Inc. ranks #19,489 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers by total current penalty, with a concerning safety record: 13 violations across 2 inspections.

Top 25% by penalty46% serious
$18,210
OSHA penalties
13
Violations cited
2
OSHA inspections
#19,489
of 99,447 penalized employers

Rico Foods, Inc. in Paterson, NJ has been the subject of 2 OSHA workplace inspections and 13 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $18,210. Separately, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found $62,266 in back wages owed to 109 affected workers. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected Rico Foods, Inc. 2 times over 1 year - more than twice a year on average. These inspections resulted in 13 violations, averaging 6.5 per inspection - a notably high rate. According to OSHA enforcement records, its total current penalty ranks #19,489 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers (the top quarter of penalized employers nationally). Of these, 6 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Retail Trade industry average of 1 inspections per employer, this runs well above peers (2.5x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $62,266 in back wages owed to 109 affected workers. For comparison, C-Town - Perth Amboy in Perth Amboy, NJ is another retail trade employer with 0 OSHA inspections on record and $0 in current penalties.

6.5
violations per inspection
46.2%
of violations were serious
#19,489
of 99,447 penalized employers
$62,266
in back wages recovered

Compliance score

F 2/100
  • F OSHA safety compliance: 13 violations across 2 OSHA inspections (6.5 per inspection), vs. national p10 0.0 (best) / p90 5.5 (worst) among 145,626 inspected employers.
  • F Wage & hour compliance: $62K in back wages owed across 1 WHD case ($62K per case), vs. national p10 $2K (best) / p90 $58K (worst) among 91,622 employers with a WHD case on file.
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How Rico Foods, Inc. compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Retail Trade per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows Rico Foods, Inc. runs far above peers (6.3x the sector average) in total OSHA penalties.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

Where this penalty ranks nationally

Total current OSHA penalty vs every U.S. employer with a nonzero penalty

$18,210 Bottom 20% least affordable more affordable than 20% of 99,447 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 43,959 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 20,304 U.S. employers with a penalty (20%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,027 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,546 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). This entry sits in this band. $20,000–$25,000: 4,175 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Above this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,877 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Above this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,036 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,493 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1,095 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 785 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 5,150 U.S. employers with a penalty (5%). Above this entry. This employer $0 $55,000 every penalized U.S. employer, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more U.S. employers with a penalty. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts · 2026

Does more inspection scrutiny mean more findings?

Each dot is one of 21 Retail Trade employers with an OSHA inspection on record, placed by inspections and violations cited. The highlighted dot is Rico Foods, Inc..

Frequently inspected, many findingsRarely inspected, many findingsFrequently inspected, clean recordBelow median on both1.92.022.02.00.49.21826.835.6OSHA inspectionsViolations citedVALLARTA FOOD ENTERP…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 8TARGET CORPORATION S…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 16P.C. RICHARD & SON, …, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 10ECONOMY BUILDING SUP…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 34MAXION WHEELS LLC, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 5INDIANAPOLIS LOGISTICS, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 8ELLSWORTH BUILDERS S…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 9WILSON FORD LINCOLN, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 19HARMON'S TIRE & SERV…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 9TIRE SUPERSTORE, INC., OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 5AMERICAN TRUCK PLAZA…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 9FASTENAL COMPANY, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 6COST-U-LESS ST. THOMAS, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 5KROGER CO. (THE), OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 9S.Q.S. FAMILY FOODS,…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 10ABC FINE WINE & SPIR…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 3VON MAUR INC., OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 2THE 99 CENT ONLY STORE, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 6MEIJER STORE #19, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 4VANN YORK PONTIAC, I…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 18Rico Foods, Inc., OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 13
Rico Foods, Inc. has 2 OSHA inspections on record and 13 violations cited. The crosshair marks the median among these Retail Trade peers. Across this sector's tracked employers, more inspections is moderately associated with more violations found -- not a coincidence, but not a guarantee either.

Rico Foods, Inc. in the Retail Trade enforcement ledger

Among 3,175 Retail Trade employers with OSHA penalties on file, Rico Foods, Inc. ranks #450 at $18,210 current penalty. On wage-and-hour enforcement alone, Rico Foods, Inc. ranks #394 among 8,492 Retail Trade employers with WHD recoveries ($62,266).

Combined federal exposure here: $18,210 OSHA penalties plus $62,266 WHD back wages (77.4% of the combined total is wage recovery).

How Rico Foods, Inc. Compares

Rico Foods, Inc.'s 6.50 violations per inspection compares to the Retail Trade sector average of 1.7 violations per employer.

Against the Retail Trade industry average of $2,898 per employer, this employer's current OSHA penalty runs far above peers (6.3x the sector average).

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

2

First Inspection

2011-08-25

Last Inspection

2011-10-04

Inspection Span

1 yr

Violations / Inspection

6.5

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$9,105

Industry Avg / Inspection

$3,571

What this shows 2 inspections over 1 year, averaging 6.5 violations per visit. That's $9,105 per inspection vs. the Retail Trade average of $3,571.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

6

Serious

46.2% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

7

Other-Than-Serious

53.8% of total

What this shows Serious violations involve hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate intentional or knowing disregard of the law. Repeat violations are for hazards previously cited within the past 5 years.

Enforcement detail

Penalty Analysis

Initial Penalty Assessed

$25,900

Current Penalty Amount

$18,210

Penalty Reduction

29.7%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$80,476

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $7,690 from the initial assessment of $25,900. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
1
Back Wages Owed
$62,266
Employees Affected
109
WHD Violations
109
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$571
Avg Back Wages per CaseAbove average
$62,266

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Rico Foods, Inc. owed $62,266 in back wages to 109 employees across 1 case and 109 violations. WHD enforces federal labor laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), covering minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards.

Industry Safety Context: Retail Trade

How Rico Foods, Inc. compares to the Retail Trade sector, which has 12,945 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric Rico Foods, Inc. Industry Avg
Inspections 2 0.8
Violations 13 1.7
Total Penalty $18,210 $2,898
Avg Penalty per Inspection $9,105 $3,571
View all 12,945 employers in Retail Trade →

Nationwide Retail Trade peers with similar penalties or inspection counts

Two OSHA-record peer sets for Rico Foods, Inc., both outside NJ so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment.

Similar current OSHA penalty

Nearest same-sector employers by current assessed penalty ($18,210 here).

Stater Bros. Markets $18,202 CA Supply New England, INC. $18,230 MA Professional Stone Kitchen and Bath Corporation $18,128 MS Pence Enterprises $18,102 MO

Similar OSHA inspection count

Same-sector employers with a comparable inspection history outside this state (2 inspections here).

Vallarta Food Enterprises, INC. 2 insp. Bakersfield, CA Target Corporation Store #1105 2 insp. Virginia Beach, VA P.C. Richard & Son, LLC. 2 insp. Bronx, NY Economy Building Supply, INC. 2 insp. Laurinburg, NC

Nearby & Similar Employers in Retail Trade

Showing 5 of 12944 other employers tracked in this sector.

Home Depot
Reynoldsburg, OH
2 inspections $80,720
Unger's Kosher Market and Bakery
Cleveland Heights, OH
0 inspections $0
Fuel Zone
New Orleans, LA
0 inspections $0
Smith's Food & Drug Center #388
Elko, NV
3 inspections $80,200
C-Town - Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy, NJ
0 inspections $0

Compare Rico Foods, Inc. vs Home Depot side-by-side →

What to do with this record

Use Rico Foods, Inc.'s enforcement history as one data point, not the whole picture.

  • A single employer's record can look unusual in isolation. Compare Rico Foods, Inc. against Home Depot, a similarly-sized employer in the same sector, before drawing conclusions. Compare side-by-side
  • See whether Rico Foods, Inc.'s inspection and penalty record is typical for Retail Trade or an outlier against the sector's own average. View the Retail Trade sector
  • Rico Foods, Inc. also carries $62,266 in Wage and Hour Division back-wages, a separate enforcement track from OSHA safety violations. How wage-theft enforcement works

Figures reflect closed OSHA and WHD federal enforcement actions on record (2010–2026); not every workplace issue results in an inspection or investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rico Foods, Inc. safe to work at? ▼
Based on OSHA records, Rico Foods, Inc.'s workplace safety record is concerning, with multiple serious compliance issues. The employer has 13 violations across 2 inspections, including 6 serious violations. Compared to Retail Trade industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does Rico Foods, Inc. have? ▼
Rico Foods, Inc. has 13 OSHA violations on record, including 6 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $18,210.
How many OSHA inspections has Rico Foods, Inc. had? ▼
Rico Foods, Inc. has had 2 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2011-08-25 and the most recent on 2011-10-04. This averages 6.5 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for Rico Foods, Inc.? ▼
Rico Foods, Inc. has been assessed $18,210 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $25,900 (a 29.7% reduction). Additionally, $62,266 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does Rico Foods, Inc. have any serious or willful violations? ▼
Yes. Rico Foods, Inc. has 6 serious violations. Serious violations involve hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate the employer intentionally or knowingly disregarded the law.
Has Rico Foods, Inc. been cited for wage theft? ▼
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against Rico Foods, Inc., resulting in $62,266 in back wages owed to 109 affected workers. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does Rico Foods, Inc. operate in? ▼
Rico Foods, Inc. operates in the Retail Trade sector (NAICS code 44529). This industry has 12,945 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 10,505 total OSHA inspections and $37.51M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if Rico Foods, Inc. owes me wages? ▼
If you believe Rico Foods, Inc. owes you wages, you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints or by calling 1-866-487-9243. WHD investigates violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act including unpaid minimum wage, overtime, and unauthorized deductions. The DOL has previously found $62,266 in back wages owed by this employer across 1 case.
Where does Rico Foods, Inc. rank nationally on OSHA penalties? ▼
Among the 99,447 U.S. employers with a nonzero current OSHA penalty in PlainWorker's corpus, Rico Foods, Inc. ranks #19,489 (the top quarter of penalized employers nationally). The ordinal is a live COUNT of employers with a lower total_current_penalty; see the methodology page for the exact derivation.
How does Rico Foods, Inc.'s safety record compare to industry average? ▼
Rico Foods, Inc.'s total OSHA penalty of $18,210 is above the Retail Trade industry average of $2,898 per employer (6.3x the average). The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 0.8 per employer. For a direct comparison, C-Town - Perth Amboy in Perth Amboy, NJ is a similar retail trade employer with $0 in current penalties.
Data Sources & Methodology ▼

Data as of 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA, WHD).

Source: OSHA Enforcement Data

Inspection and violation records from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, covering the period 2010–2026. Includes inspection dates, violation types (serious, willful, repeat, other-than-serious), and penalty amounts. Penalties shown are current assessed amounts and may differ from original citations due to settlement, contest, or reduction.

Source: Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Compliance actions from the WHD, covering enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including minimum wage, overtime, and child labor violations. Back wages represent amounts owed to affected employees as determined by WHD investigations.

Employer Matching

Employers are matched across OSHA and WHD datasets by name, state, and city. Employers included in PlainWorker have 2 or more OSHA inspections or $1,000+ in WHD back wages. Data is updated monthly from data.dol.gov.

Verify with OSHA establishment search →

Every figure on PlainWorker is rendered directly from official U.S. Department of Labor OSHA and Wage & Hour Division enforcement records, no number is typed in by an editor. This employer's ratios (penalty-per-violation, industry comparisons) are computed live from the 2 inspections on record. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.