Pringles, Nutella, Cheerios Among Nearly 2,000 Products Pulled From Shelves

A sweeping recall has pulled nearly 2,000 products off the shelves after federal inspectors discovered rodent and bird waste at a distribution center in Minnesota. 

The recall is affecting a wide range of everyday items, including snacks, cereals, beverages, cosmetics, pet food, and over-the-counter products.

Why the FDA Issued the Recall

The FDA has classified the affected items as products recalled for exposure to rodent waste, citing unsanitary storage conditions, rather than issues during manufacturing.

The FDA says the products were stored at a Gold Star Distribution, Inc. warehouse where inspectors documented rodent excreta, urine, and bird droppings in multiple areas. 

According to the FDA recall rodent contamination notice, the findings were tied to conditions observed throughout multiple storage zones at the facility.

While no illnesses have been reported so far, regulators classified the action as a Class II recall, meaning the exposure could cause temporary or medically reversible health effects.

Products Affected by the Recall

The scope of this recall is unusually broad. 

While the FDA’s full list includes hundreds of UPCs and SKUs, several familiar household names have drawn particular attention.

Among the affected items are:

• Pringles

• Nutella

• Multiple varieties of Cheerios

The recall of Pringles, Nutella, and Cheerios has drawn attention because these brands are such common pantry staples in all our households.

Popular beverages are included, as well, such as:

• Gatorade

• Coca-Cola products

• Arizona Iced Tea

A full list of all the affected products can be found here. 

The recall also extends beyond food, covering cosmetics, dental products, household goods, and pet food distributed to stores in Minnesota, Indiana, and North Dakota.

Why Rodent Waste Is Taken So Seriously

This rodent waste product recall is being handled cautiously because contamination can still happen, even when the outer packaging appears to be intact.

Rodent and bird waste can carry bacteria and pathogens that pose health risks when affected products are consumed or used. 

Public health experts note that exposure can increase the risk of illnesses linked to organisms such as Salmonella and bacteria associated with leptospirosis.

Even if the packaging appears to be intact, contamination at the storage level is raising enough concern that regulators want the products to be removed from circulation entirely. 

And that precaution is what triggered the size and urgency of this recall.

What We’re Being Told to Do

If you purchased any of the affected items, you must destroy the recalled products as soon as possible, rather than consume, use, or donate them. 

Gold Star Distribution is offering refunds for the recalled items upon request.

Health officials also recommend checking the FDA’s recall database carefully, since many of the impacted products have similar packaging to items that weren’t affected. 

If you or a pet consumed a recalled product and are experiencing symptoms consistent with foodborne illness, be sure to speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

Staying Informed Without Overreacting

Large recalls ike this can feel unsettling, especially when they involve familiar pantry staples. 

The FDA’s guidance here is precautionary, though, and it’s designed to limit our exposure, rather than respond to harm. Taking a few minutes to check the affected products and clear them from our shelves at home will help us reduce any risk and maintain everyday routines moving forward.

In the end, though, staying informed, acting promptly, and then moving on is often the most practical response.

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