FDA recall hits nearly 2,000 items over rodent and bird waste contamination

Nearly 2,000 products have been recalled across three American states after federal inspectors determined that a distribution facility had been operating under unsanitary conditions, resulting in exposure to rodent and bird waste.

Gold Star Distribution, Inc. announced the recall in December 2025 following an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which concluded that a Minneapolis-based facility posed potential contamination risks to a wide range of consumer goods.

The affected items include food, beverages, pet supplies, cosmetics, and over-the-counter drugs that were shipped to stores in Indiana, Minnesota, and North Dakota.

FDA assigns a Class II risk level

According to the FDA, the recall was first issued on Dec. 26 after inspectors found “insanitary conditions, including the presence of rodent excreta, rodent urine, and bird droppings” inside the facility. The agency said the products may have been exposed to surfaces or airborne particles contaminated by animal waste.

Health officials warned that exposure to such contamination could cause illnesses such as salmonella or leptospirosis, a bacterial disease associated with contact to animal urine.

On Jan. 22, the FDA gave the action a Class II classification, meaning that use of the products “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote,” according to the agency.

Pringles

The list of recalled goods spans 44 pages and covers several categories, including household items, cosmetics, drugs, pet foods, and packaged groceries.

Among the impacted food products are candies such as Jolly Ranchers, Skittles, and Sour Patch Kids, along with snacks like Pringles and Takis. Breakfast items were also included, with Cheerios and Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal appearing on the recall list.

Beverage brands such as Gatorade, Coca-Cola, Smart Water, and Arizona Iced Tea were affected, along with pantry staples like Heinz Ketchup, Crisco Oil, and cinnamon sticks.

Other recalled products include Pepto Bismol, Axe body spray, Q-Tip cotton swabs, Fancy Feast cat food, and Gillette razors.

In its announcement, the company advised consumers who purchased the affected products to “destroy the products as soon as possible.”