Gold Star Distribution Recalls Pet Products in Three States Over Potential Salmonella Contamination
Summary
- Company Announcement Date: 12/26/2025
- FDA Publish Date: 12/26/2025
- Product Type: Animal & Veterinary, Food & Beverages
- Reason for Announcement: Microbial Contamination, Salmonella. Potential Salmonella contamination, presence of rodent and avian contamination and insanitary conditions during the storage process.
- Company Name: Gold Star Distribution, Inc.
- Brand Name: Multiple brand names
- Product Description: All FDA-regulated products held at facility including drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements, human food, and pet food
Company Announcement
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Gold Star Distribution, Inc. is recalling a wide variety of products, including dog food, cat food, dog treats, and cat litter sold in three states. The company issued the voluntary recall after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found rodent and bird contamination at one of its facilities.
This recall applies to certain lots of pet products, including:
- Purina Dog Chow
- Purina Cat Chow
- 9 Lives Cat Food
- Fancy Feast Cat Food
- Tidy Cat Litter
- Cosmo’s Snack Shack Bakery Bone Dog Treats
The recalled products were sold at stores located in Minnesota, Indiana, and North Dakota. For a complete list of the stores and their locations, refer to the Gold Star recall announcement on the FDA website.
FDA inspectors found insanitary conditions at a Gold Star facility, citing the presence of bird droppings, rodent droppings, and rodent urine in areas where consumer products, human food, and pet food were held.
These conditions create a significant risk that products could become contaminated through contact with contaminated surfaces or exposure to airborne particulates associated with animal waste.
While no illnesses have been reported to date, people and pets exposed to affected products could face serious health risks, including the potential for bacterial contamination, which may result in illness or infection.
Health Risks for Pets and People
One particular risk associated with rodent contamination is Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections at-risk populations. These include infants, young children, frail or elderly people, pregnant people, those with pre-existing conditions (e.g., cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, etc.), and others with weakened immune systems.
Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.
Pets and people that consume or come in contact with products contaminated with rodent filth are especially at risk. Rodents are the main reservoirs of Leptospira, the bacteria that causes leptospirosis in humans and animals.
Recalled Pet Products
Products covered by this recall include a wide variety of drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and human and pet food products.
The affected pet products include:
| SKU | Description | UPC |
| 15DC | PURINA DOG CHOW – 4.4lb/4CT | 017800410274 017800180283 |
| 15DC6 | PURINA PUPPY CHOW – 4LB/4CT | 017800180269 |
| 15DT2 | DOG TREAT SNACK SHACK CHZ&BACON BAKERY BONE – 24CT | 850089007595 |
| 15DT1 | DOG TREAT SNACK SHACK P.B. BAKERY BONE – 24CT | 850089007618 |
| 15CF2C | *3.15LB 9 LIVES CAT FOOD ‘INDOOR COMPLETE’ – 4CT | 079100505647 00079100523191 |
| 15CF2D | *3.15LB 9 LIVES CAT FOOD ‘DAILY ESSENTIALS’ – 4CT | 079100581221 |
| 15CF9C | 9 LIVES CAN CHICKEN DINNER – 5.5oz/24CT #3608 | 079100004102 |
| 15DCP | PURINA CAT CHOW COMPLETE BAGS – 4/3.15LB | 017800179911 |
| 15FF1 | FANCY FEAST CAT FOOD, CREAMY DELIGHT SALMON – 3oz/24CT | 050000168231 |
| 15FF2 | FANCY FEAST CAT FOOD, MEDLEYS FLORENTINE – 3oz/24ct | 050000572813 |
| 15FF3 | FANCY FEAST CAT FOOD, GRAVY LOVERS – 3oz/24ct | 050000580064 |
| 15FR1 | FRISKIES SHREDS WITH WHITE FISH & TUNA – 5.5oz/24CT | 050000103690 |
| 15FR2 | FRISKIES PRIME FILET WITH BEEF – 5.5oz/24CT | 00050000212200 |
| 15FR3 | FRISKIES PATE SALMON DNR – 5.5oz/24CT | 050000423344 |
| 15FR4 | FRISKIES PATE POULTRY – 5.5oz/24CT | 050000423641 |
| 15FR5 | FRISKIES SHRDS TURKEY & CHEESE – 5.5oz/24CT | 050000467723 |
| 15FRA | FRISKIES ASST CANS – 5.5oz/24CT | |
| 15FRI1 | FRISKIES SEAFOOD SENSATIONS – 4/3.15LB | |
| 15FRI2 | FRISKIES INDOOR DELIGHTS – 4/3.15LB | |
| 15FRI3 | FRISKIES SURFIN’ & TURFIN’ – 4/3.15LB | |
| 15MM1 | MEOW MIX ORIGINAL BAG – 18oz/6CT | 829274454186 |
| 15MM2 | MEOW MIX ORIG. 3.15LB 4CT – #3625 | 829274513753 |
| 15MM5 | MEOW MIX BEEF & SALMON – 3LB/4CT | 829274831253 |
| 15MM6 | MEOW MIX CHICKEN & TUNA – 3LB/4CT | 829274218801 |
| 15MM7 | MEOW MIX SALMON & CHICKEN – 3LB/4CT | 829274512527 |
| 15MM8 | MEOW MIX SALMON & TURKEY – 3LB/4CT | 829274519137 |
| 15TC | TIDY CAT LITTER (RED) – 4/10 LB | 070230107107 |
| 15TC2 | TIDY CATLITTER (BLUE) – 4/10 LB | 3093B 070230107602 |
| 15TCJ | TIDY CAT LITTER (RED) – JUG 3/6 LB | 070230171108 |
The recall does not apply to products shipped directly to retail/convenience stores by the distributor or manufacturer, such as all frozen and refrigerated items. For a comprehensive list of affected products, please refer to the Gold Star Distribution list of brand names and products on the FDA website.
What to do if you purchased recalled products
Consumers and retailers who purchased the affected products should destroy them as soon as possible and verify such destruction by receipt provided to Gold Star at 1000 N. Humboldt Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411. Products should not be shipped back to Gold Star under any circumstances. Gold Star will provide refunds upon request.
Customers should contact their physician or health care provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to using these products. Customers with concerns about their pets who have eaten the recalled animal food products should contact their veterinarian.
If you have any questions, contact Gold Star at 612-617-9800, 7 days a week, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Central Standard Time.
Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.
- Complete and submit the report Online
- Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178
Additionally, the FDA’s SmartHub is designed to help the public navigate to the appropriate form or resources to report a problem with an FDA regulated human or animal product (e.g. defects in the quality or safety of a product, or labeling issue), adverse health experience (e.g. injury, illness, or death associated with a product), or facility issue (e.g. an FDA regulated facility issue such as a whistleblower report or sanitation issue).
(12/26/2025)
