A Huge Food Recall Announced Upon Discovering Warehouse Contamination from Rodents, Birds, and Insects

Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls,Salmonella on December 31, 2025

Huge food recall was quietly announced just after Christmas. Gold Star Distribution was asked to voluntarily recall FDA-regulated products, including drugs, devices, cosmetics, human foods, and pet foods after their warehouse was inspected.

Why?

According to the press release, potential contact with “rodent and avian contamination.”

These products were delivered to three states. Indiana, Minnesota, and North Dakota.

Recalls notices should have been sent out to retailers who received the product. But if you have recently purchased any of the recalled products, it is a good idea to reach out to the place of purchase to verify if the product(s) you have in your home are subject to this recall.

But first, let’s talk about the reason for the recall.

What Prompted This Huge Food Recall?

On December 26, 2026 Gold Star Distribution, Inc issued a recall for products housed in their warehouse because:

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that the facility was operating under insanitary conditions, including the presence of rodent excreta, rodent urine, and bird droppings in areas where medical devices, human food, pet food, and cosmetic products were held.”

This is a pretty big deal due to the risk of hazards associated with rodents.

Namely Salmonella and leptospirosis. Serious and life-threatening infections may impact people consuming these foods or handling these packages.

Stores That Received Recalled Product

If you have recently shopped at any of these stores located in the states of Indiana, Minnesota, or North Dakota it is a good idea to reflect on your recent purchases.

Recalled Products

The list of recalled product includes drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements, human food products, and pet food products. However, this recall does not apply to products shipped directly to retail/convenience stores by the distributor or manufacturer. Contact your place of purchase to verify this information.

Of the 44 pages of products (full list), some of the recalled items include various chips, breakfast foods, peanut butter, and candy. Certain brands of ramen noodles, rice, seasonings, and sodas are also on the list. As well as baking products like honey, flour, and corn meal. Energy drinks and coffee beverages also made the list. As did bottled water, flavored water, some teas, and certain fruit juices. Even pickles and beef sticks/jerky were indicated on the list.

So many packaged foods are on this list!

No Illnesses Have Been Linked to This Huge Food Recall, But What Symptoms Should People Look For?

So far there have been no confirmed illnesses associated with this huge food recall. However, most cases of foodborne illness go unreported.

This is mostly due to mild illness experienced by people with a normally healthy immune system. These people typically treat symptoms on their own and never seek medical attention. Therefore, they are never tested for foodborne infections like Salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli.

The two major illnesses the press release specifically mentions were salmonellosis and leptospirosis.

Salmonella

Symptoms of Salmonella infections (salmonellosis) may include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, often beginning somewhere between 6 hours to 6 days after exposure. Illness typically lasts around 4 to 7 days.

For most, medical intervention is not necessary. However, some people may experience complications requiring a trip to the doctor’s office. Some infections are so severe, sick patients require hospitalization.

Call a doctor if you have:

• Bloody stools
• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102° F
• Diarrhea that doesn’t improve after three days
• Vomiting so severe it prevents you from keeping liquids down

Dehydration is a serious issue with illnesses involving diarrhea and vomiting.

Salmonella infections are serious, as life-threatening complications may develop. Such as:

• Endocarditis: This is a type of infection affecting the lining of the heart and/or valves.
• Meningitis: This is a type of infection affecting the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
• Osteomyelitis: This type of infection affects the bones and/or bone marrow.
• Reactive arthritis: This type of infection causes inflammation of the joints, eyes, reproductive organs, and/or urinary organs.

Leptospira

Leptospira bacteria cause Leptospirosis. A bacterium associated with rodents.

Common symptoms of leptospirosis include a combination of:

• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Body or muscle aches
• Vomiting or nausea
• Yellowed skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Red eyes
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Rash

While some people may experience no symptoms at all, those who become sick may do so between 2 and 30 days after exposure.

This illness usually occurs in two phases. The first being typical flulike symptoms. Followed by a more serious secondary phase where kidney or liver issues develop. Even inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

Without treatment, it can take months to recover. With proper diagnosis and treatment, most people feel better in as early as a few days to a few weeks.

Have You Become Sick with Food Poisoning Recently?

If you have become sick with food poisoning recently, you may be impacted by this huge food recall.

These types of illness can take a toll. Both on the body and the bank account. Medical bills, missed work, the stress of caring for a sick loved one, and other burdens associated with foodborne illness add up.

If you wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Food Poisoning lawyer that can help.

The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has successfully represented cases just like yours and won millions of dollars in food poisoning and products liabilities lawsuits.

Reach out by calling (833) 330-3663 or send us an email for a free, no obligation consultation.

By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)