Camilla Jessen
Hundreds of grocery items recalled after FDA warning.
Federal officials have issued a recall affecting hundreds of popular grocery products, after unsanitary storage conditions raised concerns about potential bacterial contamination.
The recall impacts items ranging from soft drinks and candy to cereals and pantry staples sold across multiple states.
It was announced by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration on December 26, 2025, and remains ongoing.
Why the recall happened
According to the FDA, Gold Star Distribution, Inc. voluntarily recalled all FDA-regulated products stored at one of its facilities after inspectors identified “the presence of rodent and avian contamination and insanitary conditions during the storage process.”
The agency said conditions at the warehouse included “rodent excreta, rodent urine, and bird droppings.”
While no illnesses have been reported, the FDA warned that contaminated products “pose serious health risks to consumers, including the potential for bacterial contamination, which may result in illness or infection, including Salmonella.”
The FDA also noted that “rodents are the main reservoirs of Leptospira, the bacteria that causes leptospirosis in humans.”
What products are affected
The recall applies only to shelf-stable items stored at the affected facility. Frozen and refrigerated products are not included.
According to the FDA, the products were distributed to more than 50 grocery and convenience stores in Minnesota, Indiana and North Dakota, including cities such as Minneapolis, St. Paul, Indianapolis and Fargo.
Affected brands span several categories.
Beverages include select products from Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Diet Coke, Sprite, Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper, 7Up, A&W, Canada Dry, Snapple, Arizona Tea, Gatorade and Minute Maid.
Candy and snacks listed by the FDA include items from Hershey’s, Reese’s, Snickers, M&M’s, Kit Kat, Twix, Starburst, Skittles, Haribo, Butterfinger, Trolli and Werther’s Original. Some chips and meat snacks were also included.
Breakfast cereals from brands such as Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Rice Krispies and Honey Bunches of Oats were named, along with pantry staples from Heinz, Kraft, Conagra, Chef Boyardee, Hunt’s and Ragu.
A full list of products, SKUs and UPCs is available in the FDA’s recall notice.
What consumers should do
The FDA and Gold Star Distribution have advised consumers not to eat any recalled items.
Affected products should be destroyed, not returned to stores or shipped back to the distributor.
Gold Star said it will issue refunds upon request. Consumers with questions can contact the company directly.
Sources: U.S. Food & Drug Administration
