Mezzetta is facing a food recall after a TikTok video appeared to show a dead mouse inside a jar of the brand's peperoncini peppers.
Here's what to know
A woman identifying herself as Tiffany (@reizargt) posted a video showing the jar of pickled peperoncini.
"Public service announcement, don't buy this brand of peperoncinis," she said in the video. "I have a dead mouse in mine."
@reizargt @Mezzetta | Real Ingredients ♬ original sound - tiffany
In another clip, she explained further: "I'm here with the pot roast I wanted to make Mississippi-style, but there's a dead baby mouse. There's a dead baby mouse in my peperoncinis," adding that she "found out after I already licked my fingers."
Mezzetta later issued a recall with the United States Food and Drug Administration for one specific product lot, according to Gizmodo. The recall applies to the 32 oz. Mezzetta Golden Greek Peperoncini Medium Heat, sold under SKU 10106328 and lot 720106.
The company said it identified customers who received product from that lot and is "working directly with them to isolate and remove the affected product from sale." It also said it had contacted Tiffany and that no illnesses or injuries had been reported.
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Mezzetta products are sold nationwide through retailers including Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Amazon, and Kroger.
More background
The situation comes amidst growing concerns over food safety nationwide.
In 2025, complaints to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service about meat, egg, and poultry products rose 40%, with foreign objects cited as the leading issue, according to Gizmodo.
The U.S. has also recently dealt with a major cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to lettuce, a jalapeño recall spanning multiple states, and an FDA Class 1 egg recall involving 19 million eggs over salmonella concerns.
Tiffany said that after discovering the mouse, she had to throw away $50 worth of groceries meant for a Mississippi-style pot roast dinner.
What's being done?
Mezzetta has said the recall is limited to a single production lot and that it told retailers to remove those jars from shelves. The company also said it had alerted the FDA and was still investigating what happened.
"Mezzetta has asked its retail partners to remove the affected product from their shelves and notified the FDA," a company spokesperson said, according to Gizmodo. "Mezzetta is coordinating with the agency regarding the recall."
If you have Mezzetta Golden Greek Peperoncini Medium Heat, 32 oz., from lot 720106, do not eat the product and contact the company.
"At this time, the recall is limited to one product from a single production lot," the spokesperson said.
Where can I learn more?
Contamination-related recalls have affected a wide range of grocery items, including pantry staples. Cases have involved sauces, hummus, coconut, and pizza crusts pulled from shelves over foreign-material risks.
• A Hot Ones viral food product recall warned shoppers about plastic contamination risks.
• Costco and Publix pulled over 4,000 cases of salad dressing and sauce.
• King Harvest issued a major hummus recall after plastic contamination concerns hit store shelves.
• In Ireland, officials ordered an urgent coconut recall after dangerous contamination was discovered.
• Shoppers were warned after cauliflower pizza crusts were recalled over possible plastic pieces.
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