A California food company has pulled thousands of jars of peperoncinis from shelves after a TikTok user posted videos allegedly showing a dead mouse inside.
Mezzetta, based in American Canyon in the Napa Valley region, announced the voluntary recall of its Golden Creek Peperoncini (Medium Heat) in 32-ounce jars following the viral social media posts. The company specializes in olives, pickled vegetables and pasta sauces.
“We have requested to retrieve and examine the product involved in the original consumer report and are reviewing the relevant production, sanitation and food-safety records as part of our ongoing investigation,” the FDA wrote in its Saturday announcement.
The agency continued, “We immediately took action to identify where the product was distributed and worked with affected customers to isolate and remove it from sale. As our investigation continues, we’ll take other appropriate steps as needed.”
No illnesses or injuries had been reported at the time of the announcement.
The TikTok videos sparked widespread reaction across the platform. “That’s why they’re in clear jars. You always have to check for dead mice before buying,” one user commented on one of the videos.
Another person expressed brand loyalty despite the incident, writing, “thats literally the only good brand for pickled peppers im SICK.”
The recall comes amid a broader pattern of contamination-related food safety actions. Earlier this month, the FDA recalled four types of raw milk cheese produced by Sierra Nevada Graziers, another California company, following E. Coli cases across nine states.
The December 2025 rodent and bird contamination discovery at a distribution facility prompted a much larger recall affecting nearly 2,000 products including Cheerios, Skittles and Pringles.
Mezzetta moved to contact the consumer directly after the videos spread, working to retrieve the jar for examination as part of its investigation. The company has not publicly identified the TikTok user who made the original posts.
The FDA’s Saturday announcement emphasized the ongoing nature of the probe, with additional steps possible as findings develop.
Food safety experts note that clear glass packaging, which the commenter referenced, allows consumers to visually inspect products before purchase — a design choice that proved consequential in this case.
The Mezzetta recall represents the latest in a string of high-profile food contamination incidents amplified by social media, where single consumer posts can rapidly trigger corporate response and regulatory action.
Mezzetta continues to distribute its other product lines while the peperoncini investigation proceeds.