FDA questions cold medicine effectiveness
Many of us reach for cold medicine when we’re feeling under the weather. However, the FDA says, they don’t actually work.
Fox – Seattle
It can feel like a job just keeping up with what the Federal Food and Drug Administration informs the public of when foods and drugs are removed from grocery stores and pharmacies.
Here is what we know about what food and drugs are currently recalled for February.
FDA recalls: Here’s a list of what was pulled from stores in February 2025
The FDA removed the following items from store shelves in February:
- Aleppo Tahini Sesame Paste: Recalled for potential foodborne illness of salmonella.
- Jack & the Green Sprouts Alfalfa Sprouts: Potential foodborne illness of listeria monocytogenes.
- Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, Trader Joe’s Canned tuna: Potential foodborne illness of botulism.
- CHOSHIYA Menma Ajitsuke Prepared Bamboo Shoot: Potential foodborne illness of botulism.
- Cub Foods, Jerry’s Foods, Country Market Raisin Bran Muffin: Recalled for undeclared walnuts.
- Mauna Loa Mauna Loa Milk Chocolate Covered Macadamias: Recalled for undeclared almonds.
- BD ChloraPrep Clear 1 mL applicator skin preparation product: Potential for fungal contamination under certain environmental conditions allowing the growth of aspergillus penicillioides.
- Naturipe Snacks Berry Buddies, Berries & Pancakes bento box snack packs: Recalled for undeclared allergen (wheat, eggs).
- Vitality male enhancement dietary supplement capsules: Recalled for undeclared sildenafil and tadalafil.
- Las Ollas Las Ollas Botana Mix Snacks and Delights 2 lb packages: Recalled for undeclared wheat, sesame, soy, yellow 5, yellow 6, red 6.
- Ulker Snack rolls, biscuits, and wafers: Recalled for undeclared allergen (wheat, eggs, milk).
- Glicks Dark Chocolate Conettos: Recalled for undeclared milk allergen.
- ReadyCare, Imperial Frozen supplemental shakes: Recalled for possible listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Former head of FDA: ‘There’s really no seriousness about what they want to get done.’
After federal jobs recently getting gutted by the Trump administration or employees pressured to leave their jobs, having those barriers for what food and drugs aren’t safe for consumption could be limited.
This month, the head of the FDA resigned, according to a Bloomberg report.
Jim Jones, the former head of the FDA, said the agency’s layoffs show that the current administration is unserious.
“I’m not sure if it’s a lack of understanding of how things get done, or it’s that there’s really no seriousness about what they want to get done,” he said. “I don’t know. But I didn’t want to spend the next six months of my career on activities that are fundamentally about dismantling an organization, as opposed to working on the stated agenda.”
The exact number of jobs cut is not confirmed, but according to the New York Times, the FDA is believed to have lost about 700 of its 18,000 employees.
What does a Class I recall mean?
According to the FDA, a Class 1 classification is a scenario where there’s a significant likelihood that using or being exposed to a non-compliant product will result in severe health outcomes or even death.
Last month, the FDA announced a recall for multiple Cal Yee Farm products, including chocolate and yogurt-covered products such as Dark Chocolate Walnuts, Raisins, Almonds, Yogurt-Coated Almonds, dark Chocolate Apricots, Tropical Trail Mix, and Butter Toffee.
Per the FDA’s website, classifications include:
- Class I – The use of or exposure to a product could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
- Class II – The use of or exposure to a product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
- Class III – The use of or exposure to a product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.
What should customers do if they have a recalled product in their home?
It’s good to be aware if you recently purchased a recalled product. There are steps to follow if you do have these products in your home. According to FoodSafety.gov, here is what you should do.
- Don’t panic: The majority of food recalls are not directly linked to an outbreak of foodborne illness. Instead, many recalls are initiated due to the potential risk of contamination in the food product. In such cases, food manufacturers often issue a recall as a preventive measure to safeguard consumers.
- Don’t eat the food or consume the drug: To ensure your safety, refrain from consuming any recalled food products. Always prioritize caution over convenience. Additionally, please refrain from donating the recalled food to food banks or providing it to your pets, as they are also susceptible to food poisoning.
- Don’t open the food: To prevent foodborne illnesses, refrain from opening and inspecting food. Bacteria and viruses responsible for such illnesses are invisible, odorless, and tasteless. If you do handle the product, ensure you thoroughly cleanse your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds afterward.
- Check the recall notice to find out what to do with the food: Upon a food product recall by a manufacturer, specific instructions are provided regarding the product’s handling. These instructions generally entail one of the following actions: Return the product to the original store of purchase for a refund. Safely dispose of the product to prevent consumption by humans or animals, particularly if the product has been opened.
