Dead Mouse Reportedly Found In Pantry Staple And More Food Safety Concerns: Recall Roundup

A well-known specialty foods company has issued a nationwide recall for chili peppers and is investigating reports from a consumer who claimed to have found a dead rodent inside an unopened jar, according to federal regulators

New and expanded recalls also include cheeses associated with a multi-state E. coli outbreak, frozen berries linked to another strain of E. coli, pasta linked to listeria and salad dressing that may be contaminated salmonella.

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Below here's what to know about products that may be in your pantry, refrigerator or freezer.

Dead Mouse Prompts Pepper Recall

G.L. Mezzetta Inc., a family-owned Northern California specialty foods company, has voluntarily recalled 32-ounce jars of Mezzetta Golden Greek Peperoncini, Medium Heat, with SKU 10106328 and lot number 720106, according to a Sept. 26 recall notice posted by the Food and Drug Administration.

The company said it became aware of a social media video showing what appears to be a dead mouse in one of the jars and contacted the consumer. Mezzetta said it is reviewing production, sanitation and food-safety records. Distributors and retailers that received the affected lot have been asked to remove it from their inventories.

No illnesses or injuries had been reported as of the recall announcement. No other Mezzetta products or lots are included in the recall, according to the company.

Consumers who have a recalled jar should not eat the peppers and may contact Mezzetta at CustomerSupport@Mezzetta.com for assistance.

Listeria Risk In Expanded Pasta Recall

A recall of Bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine sold nationwide at Walmart has been expanded to include all lot codes because of possible listeria contamination, federal regulators said.

Gias Foods Inc. of New York initially recalled two lots of the frozen pasta in September, but the company expanded the recall Oct. 1 to cover all lots of the 22-ounce product with UPC 194346442706, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The recall followed routine sampling by agriculture officials in Washington and Florida that found the finished product may contain Listeria monocytogenes. Gias Foods has stopped distributing the product while the company and FDA investigate the source of the contamination.

No illnesses had been reported as of the latest recall notice. Consumers who bought the recalled pasta should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriage or stillbirth.

Raw Milk Cheese Recalled

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company is recalling all of its Graziers raw milk cheeses sold nationwide after the products were linked to a multistate E. coli outbreak that has sickened 13 people, federal regulators said.

The recall includes Monterey Jack, Jalapeño Jack, Medium Cheddar and Sharp Cheddar sold in 8-ounce, 16-ounce, and larger wholesale packages. The FDA said the investigation has not yet identified a specific lot, production date or source of contamination.

The cheeses may be contaminated with E. coli O26, a Shiga toxin-producing strain that can cause severe diarrhea and, in some cases, a potentially life-threatening kidney complication.

Consumers should not eat or serve the recalled cheese and should return it for a refund or throw it away.

Frozen Berries Recall Expands

A recall of frozen organic berries sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's has expanded to include additional lots because of possible contamination with a potentially dangerous strain of E. coli.

Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of Chile expanded earlier recalls to include additional lots of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend and Great Value Organic Blueberries sold at select Walmart stores, along with one lot of Trader Joe's Organic Mixed Berry Blend, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The recalled Great Value products were shipped to Walmart stores in 30 states and Puerto Rico. The Trader Joe's product was distributed in 26 states and the District of Columbia.

The recall covers 10-ounce bags of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend with lot codes 6 031 01 and 6 041 01; 10-ounce bags of Great Value Organic Blueberries with lot codes 6 019 01, 6 040 01, and 6 163 01; and 12-ounce bags of Trader Joe's Organic Mixed Berry Blend with lot code 6 051 01. Best-by dates run from January through June 2028.

The company said the action was taken as a precaution after traceback information linked the products to frozen blueberries involved in an earlier recall. Consumers should not eat the affected berries and should throw them away or return them to Walmart or Trader Joe's for a refund.

E. coli O145 is a Shiga toxin-producing strain that can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (including bloody diarrhea), and vomiting. In some cases, particularly among young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially serious complication.

Salmonella Risk Prompts Dressing Recall

A recall of jalapeño avocado salad dressing sold in three states has been classified at the Food and Drug Administration's highest risk level because of possible salmonella contamination tied to a multistate outbreak.

Salata Dressings LLC recalled 12.5-ounce bottles and 1-gallon jugs of its Jalapeño Avocado Dressing after learning diced jalapeños used in the product were among four lots linked to a broader Salmonella outbreak, according to the FDA. The dressing was distributed in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas.

The recall covers 1,724 cases with expiration dates ranging from July 8 through Nov. 25, 2026.

The FDA classified the recall as Class I, its highest classification, meaning there is a reasonable probability that use of or exposure to the product could cause serious health consequences or death.

The recalled dressing is connected to a larger outbreak involving jalapeños imported from Sinaloa, Mexico, by Coast Citrus Distributors. The outbreak has been linked to 431 illnesses and 57 hospitalizations in 32 states, according to the report.

Salmonella infection can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Illness can be more severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.