Real.Good.News.

MINNEAPOLIS – In what social media is already calling the ultimate “truth in advertising” nightmare, a Minnesota man reported finding actual, wriggling larvae inside a freshly opened bag of gummy worms this week. While the irony of finding real worms in a product shaped like them isn’t lost on the public, the reality is a stark reminder of the fragile nature of global food supply chains in 2026.

The incident follows a massive Class I recall—the FDA’s most serious classification—issued on December 26, 2025, involving thousands of products distributed through Gold Star Distribution, Inc.. Investigators discovered that a Minneapolis facility was operating under “insanitary conditions,” with evidence of rodent and avian contamination in areas where human food, including popular candy brands, was stored.

Brands Caught in the Crosshairs

While major manufacturers often maintain rigorous internal quality controls, they are frequently at the mercy of third-party distributors. According to the recent FDA update, several high-profile candy brands stored at the contaminated facility are under scrutiny or have had specific batches recalled in affected regions (primarily Minnesota, Indiana, and North Dakota):

• Haribo: Specifically, the iconic Goldbears and Happy Cola lines have been flagged in recent regional distribution recalls. This comes just months after a separate 2025 incident in the Netherlands where Haribo Happy Cola F!ZZ was recalled for potential cannabis contamination.
• Sour Patch Kids: Various Sour Patch candies distributed through the Gold Star facility were included in the “pest adulteration” warning.
• Jolly Rancher: Multiple products, including Misfits Gummies and Berry Gummies, have faced recent safety alerts. In early 2026, certain Jolly Rancher items were also pulled from UK shelves due to the presence of unauthorized mineral oils.
• Trolli: While generally praised for its “Smiley Face” crawlers, regional batches of Sour Brite Crawlers were among the items potentially exposed to the distribution center’s “unsanitary conditions”.
  
  How to Protect Your Pantry
• Food safety experts recommend that consumers do more than just check the “Best Before” date. In 2026, the smart shopper should:
• Verify the Lot Code: For example, Haribo bags with a best-before date of January 2026 and specific lot codes (like L341-4002307906) have been high-priority targets for various recalls.
• Monitor the FDA Recalls Portal: Recent 2026 Class III recalls also affected Bendon Publishing gummy products due to unapproved color additives.
• Inspect the Packaging: Look for tiny “pinprick” holes, which can be an entry point for pests during storage, even in seemingly sealed bags.
• As of today, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the Gold Star distribution incident, but the FDA advises anyone who purchased these items at gas stations or small markets in the Midwest to “destroy the products as soon as possible”.