Thousands of Items From Brands Like Coca-Cola, Cheerios and Pringles Are Being Recalled
The FDA issued the recall in 3 states — for a rather unsettling reason.
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In this day and age, recalls are pretty common. They can happen for a whole variety of reasons, from contamination to undeclared allergens. Usually, these recalls are done with an abundance of caution and only impact a limited distribution of products or regions. But a recent recall seems a whole lot larger — and a great deal more disturbing.
Why was the recall issued?
This recall, which impacts thousands of Gold Star products, follows an FDA notice of a facility with “insanitary conditions, including the presence of rodent excreta, rodent urine, and bird droppings.” This means any products in that facility, which is based in Minneapolis, may have come in contact with the animal waste, which can put those who breathe it in at risk of a variety of health issues including salmonella. The FDA's warning is a Class II level, which is reserved for items that when exposed to or ingested can potentially cause temporary illness or health concerns. While no one has reported illness yet, that doesn’t mean we’re officially in the clear — infections such as salmonella can take days to start showing symptoms.
Which products are being recalled?
The impacted products were distributed to stores in Indiana, Minnesota and North Dakota and included food and beverage, but also items ranging from pet food to cosmetics, household products and more. A complete list of the recalled products is available here, and it includes brands such as Coca-Cola, Heinz, Pringles and Cheerios.
What should you do if you have one of the recalled products?
If you have any of the products on the list, the FDA advises tossing them immediately. Due to the risk of exposure to impacted items, returns will not be accepted, but you can request a refund after disposing of the recalled item.
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