Brief

Mezzetta Recalls Pepper Jar After TikTok Video Shows Dead Mouse

The recall covers a single lot of 32‑oz jars of Mezzetta Golden Greek Peperoncinis after a viral video revealed a dead mouse inside.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 28 Sep 2026 22:44:07 GMT

Mezzetta has issued a recall for a specific lot of its 32‑oz Golden Greek Peperoncinis after a TikTok video showed a dead mouse inside a jar. The company said the recall, coordinated with the FDA, applies only to lot 720106 of SKU 10106328.

The video, posted on 16 September by a woman identified only as Tiffany, shows her opening a jar of the peppers and finding a dead baby mouse. She says she had already licked her fingers before discovering the mouse and that she had to discard about $50 worth of groceries. The incident prompted Mezzetta to contact the woman and to work with retailers such as Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Amazon and Kroger to remove the affected product from shelves.

Mezzetta has stated that it has identified customers who received the recalled lot and is “working directly with them to isolate and remove the affected product from sale.” The company said it has received no reports of illness or injury from the recalled product and is continuing a thorough investigation. A spokesperson told Gizmodo that the recall is limited to one product from a single production lot and that the company will take appropriate action once the investigation is complete.

The recall follows a broader trend of food recalls in the United States, with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reporting a 40% jump in complaints about meat, egg and poultry products in 2025, and a 2026 recall of 19 million eggs over salmonella concerns. Mezzetta’s recall is the first to involve a foreign object in a jarred pepper product.

Key facts

Mezzetta recalled 32‑oz Golden Greek Peperoncinis from lot 720106 (gizmodo.com)
Recall coordinated with the FDA and involves retailers Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Amazon and Kroger (gizmodo.com)
Video posted on 16 September by a woman named Tiffany showing a dead mouse in a jar (gizmodo.com)
No reports of illness or injury from the recalled product (gizmodo.com)
Recall limited to one product from a single production lot (gizmodo.com)

Background

Mezzetta is a food brand known for olives and pickled vegetables. The recall is part of a series of food safety incidents reported in 2026, including a large salmonella‑related egg recall and a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to lettuce.