FDA Recalls Nearly 2,000 Products Over Rodent Contamination

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has classified a recall of nearly 2,000 consumer products as Class II after inspectors uncovered unsanitary conditions at a Minnesota distribution facility, exposing items to rodent and bird waste. The recall, initiated by Gold Star Distribution Inc. on December 26, affects food, beverages, over-the-counter drugs, cosmetics, pet supplies, and household goods sold at retailers in Indiana, Minnesota, and North Dakota.

FDA investigators determined that the company's Minneapolis-based warehouse operated under conditions that included rodent excreta, rodent urine, and bird droppings in areas where products were stored. According to the agency, these contaminants could have transferred to items through direct contact with surfaces or airborne particles, posing risks of bacterial illnesses such as salmonella and leptospirosis. Salmonella infections, which can cause fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps, typically appear 12 to 72 hours after exposure and last four to seven days, the FDA states. Leptospirosis, spread through contact with infected animal urine, may lead to more severe symptoms including headache, muscle pain, and organ damage in rare...