Major Food and Drug Recalls in the U.S. — October 2025: What Consumers Need to Know
Every month, consumers trust that the products on supermarket shelves or in their medicine cabinets are safe to consume or use. But in October 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed multiple recall notices covering both food items and medications, across everything from baby-food pouches to statin pills. Here’s what to know: what was recalled, why, and what you can do.
What Was Recalled & Why
1. Food & Beverages
Baby Food: Lead Concern
A voluntary recall was issued for certain pouches of Sprout Organics “Sweet Potato Apple & Spinach” (3.5-oz) sold at retailers such as Walgreens due to elevated lead levels.
Pet Treats: Salmonella Risk
Foodynamics announced a voluntary recall of specific lots of freeze-dried pet treats (brands like Raw Dog Barkery, BellePepper Cats, Kanu Pets, What’s In the Bowl) because of possible contamination with Salmonella infection.
Cinnamon, Pecans & Eggs: Multiple Alerts
According to the FDA’s recall list, on October 17 2025, multiple food items were flagged:
- Ground cinnamon (lead contamination risk)
- Cinnamon whiskey pecans (undeclared cashews, allergen risk)
- Pasture-raised eggs (possible Salmonella)
- Ice cream (eggs undeclared)
- Frozen raw shrimp (exposure to very low levels of Cs-137).
2. Medications
Cholesterol Drug: Dissolution Failure
Over 140,000 bottles of generic Atorvastatin Calcium (a statin) were recalled because the tablets “failed dissolution specifications,” meaning they might not break down as intended and thus might not be effective.
Multiple Drugs: Label-mix and Manufacturing Errors
Another round of recall notices covered many prescription drugs including:
- A label mix-up between brands of a muscle-relaxant and another product.
- Generic versions of antiepileptic and antipsychotic drugs with manufacturing defects.
What You, the Consumer, Should Do
- Identify and check the affected lot numbers, expiration dates, or product descriptions listed in the recall notices.
- Take all recalls seriously. Products may seem harmless but may still pose a risk or cause very minor damage. For instance, ineffective medications, exposure to lead, or very low lead poisoning.
- For medications, talk to your pharmacist or physician. Food items are self-returnable to retailers.
- Keep up to date with the FDA’s searchable recall databases, including Drug Recalls and Recalls.
- Incorporate safe practices, like washing your hands after handling pet food or items that are known to be contaminated. With young children, older adults, and chronically ill people, be prudent.
