"Look, there's a dead mouse in the jar": a social media video led to a well-known product being pulled from shelves

A viral TikTok video showing a customer discovering a dead mouse in a jar of Mezzetta brand pepperoncini peppers has led to a product recall. The American grocery chain WinCo Foods removed not only that batch of peppers from sale but also two types of ready-made sauces containing them. Mezzetta notified the FDA and is coordinating the recall.

A viral TikTok video in which a customer named Tiffany discovered a dead mouse in a jar of Mezzetta brand pepperoncini peppers has led to a large-scale product recall in the United States. The American grocery chain WinCo Foods removed from sale not only the entire batch of these peppers but also two types of ready-made bean sauce kits that contain these peppers. On September 26, Mezzetta announced the recall of its Golden Greek Pepperoncini, Medium Heat batch. A company representative stated that Mezzetta notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is coordinating further actions with it. Consumers who purchased the product are advised not to consume it and to contact the company. No reports of illnesses related to this batch have been received. The incident occurred amid a rise in complaints about foreign objects in food products: in 2025, the number of such complaints about meat products, eggs, and poultry increased by 40%.

"Look, there's a dead mouse in the jar": a social media video led to a well-known product being pulled from shelves