Several food products are currently under recall in the United States, ranging from cottage cheese and BBQ sauce to pet food and dietary supplements. Recalls shift frequently, so this overview covers the most recent alerts along with active outbreak investigations and what to do if you find a recalled item in your kitchen.
Recent FDA Food Recalls
The FDA maintains a rolling list of recalled products. Here are the most recent alerts, starting with the newest:
- Savannah Bee Company Honey BBQ Sauce-Mustard (16 fl oz): Recalled for undeclared wheat and soy, which pose a serious risk if you have an allergy or sensitivity to either. Look for lot code B1L1360525 and a “Best Before” date of 05/16/27.
- RHINO CHOCO VIP 10X chocolate: This product, sold in 10-gram packages of 12 pieces by USA LESS Co., was found to contain an undeclared erectile dysfunction drug (tadalafil) not listed on the label.
- Great Value Cottage Cheese: Saputo Cheese USA recalled select containers because the liquid dairy ingredients may not have been fully pasteurized. No illnesses had been reported at the time of the recall.
- Boner Bears Chocolate Syrup: Lockout Supplements recalled all lots nationwide after testing found the product contained undeclared sildenafil, another erectile dysfunction drug.
- Made Fresh Salad cream cheeses and tofu spread: Recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, a bacterium especially dangerous for pregnant women, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
- Rosabella Moringa Capsules: Recalled by Ambrosia Brands for possible Salmonella contamination.
A couple of these, particularly the chocolate products with hidden drug ingredients, are a reminder that “food” recalls sometimes include supplements and novelty items sold alongside regular groceries.
Pet Food Recalls
Pet owners should check their shelves too. Go Raw LLC expanded its recall of Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe products, covering both frozen and freeze-dried nuggets (10 oz bags), because they may contain dangerously low levels of thiamine (vitamin B1). Thiamine deficiency in cats can cause neurological problems and, if untreated, can be fatal. The company has enacted a stop-sale on all Quest products while it investigates.
Elite Treats LLC also recalled a single lot of its Chicken Chips for Dogs (6 oz bags, lot number 24045) due to possible Salmonella contamination. Salmonella in pet food is a risk not just for animals but for the people handling it.
Meat and Poultry Alerts
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service handles recalls for meat, poultry, and egg products separately from the FDA. Two active public health alerts are worth noting. Rosina Food Products recalled roughly 9,462 pounds of ready-to-eat frozen meatball products due to possible foreign matter contamination. And a separate alert flagged ready-to-eat beef jerky products for misbranding and undeclared allergens.
Earlier alerts that remain technically active include a Whole Foods Market Kitchens Birria-Inspired Beef Soup that may have been mislabeled as plant-based chicken noodle soup, creating a hidden allergen risk. Pruski’s Market beef and turkey jerky products were also flagged for misbranding and undeclared allergens across multiple package sizes.
Active Foodborne Outbreak Investigations
Beyond individual product recalls, the CDC is currently tracking 10 multistate foodborne outbreak investigations. Eight involve Salmonella and two involve Listeria. The foods linked to active investigations include:
- Moringa powder capsules and moringa leaf powder: Two separate Salmonella outbreaks tied to different strains
- Super greens supplement powders: Linked to Salmonella
- Raw oysters: Linked to Salmonella
- Eggs: Linked to Salmonella Enteritidis
- Frozen sprouted beans: Linked to Salmonella
- Prepared pasta meals: Linked to Listeria
- Pistachio cream: Linked to Salmonella
- Infant formula: Linked to Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism
- Home delivery meals: Linked to Salmonella
These investigations are ongoing, meaning the CDC is still working to identify specific brands or lots in some cases. The infant formula investigation is particularly urgent because botulism can be life-threatening in infants.
Why Foods Get Recalled
The most common triggers for food recalls fall into a few categories: undeclared allergens (wheat, soy, milk, tree nuts), bacterial contamination (Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli), foreign objects in the product, and undeclared drug ingredients in supplements or novelty foods. Undeclared allergens are consistently one of the top reasons. For someone with a severe allergy, eating a mislabeled product can cause anaphylaxis.
Not all recalls carry equal risk. A Class I recall means there’s a reasonable chance the product could cause serious harm or death. Class II means the health consequences are likely temporary or medically reversible. Class III means the product is unlikely to cause any health problems at all. Most contamination-related recalls fall into Class I.
What to Do With Recalled Food
If you find a recalled product in your fridge or pantry, don’t eat it, even if it looks and smells fine. Bacteria like Listeria and Salmonella aren’t detectable by taste or appearance. The CDC recommends placing the recalled item in a sealed bag and throwing it in the garbage. If it was stored in a reusable container, wash that container with hot, soapy water before using it again.
Clean any refrigerator shelves or drawers where the recalled food sat using hot, soapy water. For extra protection, you can sanitize those surfaces with a solution of one tablespoon of liquid bleach per gallon of water. Wipe down any kitchen counters the food touched, wash your hands thoroughly, and launder any towels you used during cleanup.
Getting a Refund
The refund process varies widely by company, and frankly, it’s often more hassle than the product was worth. Some companies offer full refunds but require you to physically return the item to the store. Others ask you to register online and wait for further instructions. In some cases, you won’t get cash back at all, just a credit or voucher toward a future purchase from the same company.
The simplest refund processes let you submit a photo of the product along with a few details online, no receipt required. The most burdensome ones require you to mail the product back or visit a store during specific hours. For a $3 item, many people understandably skip the process entirely. If you do want a refund, check the recall announcement for the specific company’s instructions, which are usually posted on the FDA or USDA recall page.
How to Stay Updated
Recall lists change weekly, sometimes daily. The three official sources to check are the FDA’s Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts page at fda.gov, the USDA FSIS recalls page at fsis.usda.gov for meat and poultry, and FoodSafety.gov, which aggregates alerts from both agencies in one place. The FDA website also offers email subscription options so new alerts come directly to your inbox. Signing up takes less than a minute and is the most reliable way to catch recalls before you’ve already eaten the product.