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Thousands of snacks and meals tonic Possibly after being recalled pollute and animal waste, posing dangerous health risks.
Gold Star Distribution, Inc., headquartered in Minnesota, Reminiscing The list of products the FDA regulates due to rodent and bird contamination is long, according to a company announcement shared by the agency on Friday.
The FDA said the products were handled in unsanitary conditions, posing serious health risks to consumers, including “the potential for bacterial contamination that could lead to illness or infection, including salmonella.”
Nearly 2,000 of the recalled products were sold at retailers in three states: Indiana, Minnesota and North Dakota. The recall includes over-the-counter drugs, cosmetics, dietary supplements, human food, pet food and medical devices.
Jif Crunchy Peanut Butter, Skittles, Snickers, Twix, Haribo gummy bears, Pringles, Quaker grits and Gatorade are among the more popular items affected.
Meanwhile, HALLS Defense Vitamin C Drops, Mentos Vitamin Gum (Citrus Flavor), Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin and Benadryl are among the affected medical products.
You can find the full list of recalled products here here. You can also find a list of stores that sell these products here.
The recall comes after the FDA determined that Gold Star Distribution, Inc.’s facility was operating under unsanitary conditions, including “the presence of rodent excrement, rodent urine, and bird droppings in areas where medical devices, pharmaceuticals, human food, pet food, and cosmetics are stored,” according to the agency’s report.
“Products contaminated with filth, rodent excrement and rodent urine may cause illness in animals that eat the food or in humans who come into contact with the product.”
“Rodents are the primary host for Leptospira, the bacterium that causes leptospirosis in humans and animals,” the company announcement said. “Contaminated medical devices may increase the risk of device-related infections, ingestion of medications and food may cause adverse health effects, and cosmetics applied to the skin or eyes may cause skin irritation, infection or other adverse reactions.”
These bacteria can also cause salmonella poisoning, which can lead to serious and sometimes fatal illness. The FDA website states that humans can develop a salmonella infection within 12 to 72 hours after eating food contaminated by the bacteria, with symptoms “usually lasting four to seven days.”
Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. The elderly, children under five and people with weakened immune systems are “more likely to develop serious infections”. Salmonella is the second leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Salmonella concerns have led to several food recalls this year. In December, Vega Farms recalled more than 1,500 egg cartons after multiple samples tested positive for salmonella. The recall comes as 13 people were hospitalized in California due to accidents. ate contaminated eggs.