Buyer Beware

January 30, 2026 — The Food and Drug Administration has issued a large recall after inspectors found rodent feces, rodent urine, and bird droppings at a Gold Star Distribution facility in Minnesota. Nearly 2,000 products are affected. The company is urging consumers who bought the items to destroy them immediately, according to the recall notice. The products were distributed to stores in Minnesota, Indiana, and North Dakota, and a full list is posted on the FDA’s website.

The recall includes food, drinks, pet food, cosmetics, and medications, with several familiar brands on the list. Certain lots of Pringles, Haribo, Hershey’s, Nutella, and Jif Peanut Butter are affected, along with cereals like Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Raisin Bran, and Cream of Wheat. Drinks, including Gatorade, Smartwater, Pepsi, and Coca-Cola, are also included, as are medications such as Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin, and Benadryl, including children’s versions.

The FDA says the recall was first issued in late December after determining the Minneapolis-based facility was operating under unsanitary conditions, raising concerns that products may have been exposed to animal waste. The agency later classified it as a Class II recall, meaning the products could cause temporary health issues. The FDA warns that exposure could lead to illnesses such as Salmonella or leptospirosis, though serious outcomes are considered unlikely.