California-based food manufacturer G. L. Mezzetta Inc. has issued a voluntary recall for a specific lot of its peperoncini jars after a social media video appeared to show a rodent inside one of the containers. The company announced the recall on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), citing the potential presence of a "pest contaminant." Mezzetta stated it has contacted the consumer who posted the video and is currently investigating the production, sanitation, and food-safety records related to the affected batch.
The recall follows a TikTok video posted on September 16, 2026, in which a consumer reported finding a "dead baby mouse" while using the product to cook a Mississippi-style pot roast. In the video, the woman held up the 32-ounce jar and tagged the company. According to subsequent social media posts, the consumer contacted the retailer where the product was purchased, an attorney, and poison control. The FDA posted the company's announcement on September 26, ten days after the initial social media report, describing the reason for the action as the possible presence of "foreign objects."
The recall is limited to 32-ounce glass jars of Mezzetta Golden Greek Peperoncini, Medium Heat, with SKU 10106328 and Lot number 720106. No other Mezzetta products or production lots are included. The company reported that it has not received any reports of illness or injury linked to the product. Mezzetta has identified the customers that received the specific lot and has stated it is working with them to remove the items from sale.
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a food is considered adulterated if it consists of any "filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance" or was prepared under "insanitary conditions." A person who has already consumed the product and experiences illness is advised to see a doctor and tell them what they ate. While Mezzetta has not publicly specified which retailers or states received the lot, they stated they are working directly with customers to isolate and remove the product from sale.
What happens next: The FDA has not yet assigned an official recall classification to this event. Mezzetta has requested the original jar from the consumer for further review as part of its internal investigation. Consumers seeking assistance are directed to contact the company via email at CustomerSupport@Mezzetta.com. No specific deadline for refunds or additional retail distribution lists have been provided at this time.