Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Weekly Recall | What’s Really Inside? Hidden Drugs, Mislabeling, and the Quiet Risks in America’s Consumer Supply Chain

ST. PAUL, MN

In the language of public health, recalls are often written plainly. A product name. A lot number. A date. A directive.

But behind this week’s alerts from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and federal regulators lies something far more unsettling than routine enforcement. It is a reminder that, in an increasingly fragmented marketplace, what consumers believe they are buying and what they are actually consuming can diverge in ways that are not only misleading but potentially dangerous.

Three separate cases. Three different products. One underlying concern: the erosion of trust in labeling, transparency, and safety.

The Supplement That Wasn’t What It Claimed to Be

The first alert centers on a product marketed as an herbal supplement but found to contain something far more potent.

Primal Supplements Group LLC has issued a nationwide voluntary recall of its product Volume, following laboratory confirmation by federal regulators that it contains sildenafil, the active ingredient in the prescription drug Viagra. The substance was not disclosed anywhere on the label.

The affected products were sold between July 2 and September 19, 2025, packaged in 8.5-ounce round containers with green labels, and distributed directly to consumers through the company’s website.

The implications are not abstract.

Sildenafil is a regulated pharmaceutical for a reason. According to federal safety guidance, it can interact with nitrate-based medications such as nitroglycerin, commonly prescribed for heart conditions, and cause a sudden and potentially life-threatening drop in blood pressure. Individuals with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or hypertension are particularly vulnerable.

What is marketed as a supplement in this case effectively becomes an unapproved drug, consumed without physician oversight, dosage control, or informed consent.

Consumers are being urged to stop using the product immediately and contact the company for a refund or replacement.

“Honey” Products With Hidden Pharmaceuticals

If the first recall raises concern, the second deepens it.

Pure Vitamins and Natural Supplements LLC, based in Tampa, Florida, has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of three products commonly marketed as natural sexual enhancement aids:

• Boner Bear Honey
• Red Bull Extreme
• Blue Bull Extreme

Testing conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed that these products contain undeclared sildenafil and tadalafil, the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis.

The breakdown is precise:

• Boner Bear Honey: Contains both sildenafil and tadalafil
• Red Bull Extreme: Contains sildenafil (expiration dates May 2024 and May 2029)
• Blue Bull Extreme: Contains sildenafil (expiration February 2029)
• Boner Bear Honey Lot #BBH0128: Expiration January 28

These products are often packaged in single-use tubes inside retail boxes, marketed as “natural” or “herbal,” and sold through online platforms and informal retail channels.

The danger lies not only in the presence of these drugs, but in their concealment.

As federal regulators have repeatedly warned, undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients in supplements can lead to serious adverse health outcomes, particularly when combined with other medications. The risk is amplified by the absence of dosage transparency and the likelihood that consumers may unknowingly ingest multiple such products.

Consumers are advised to immediately discontinue use, discard the products or return them for a full refund, and seek medical attention if any adverse symptoms occur.

When Labels Fail: A Food Product Misidentified

The third alert moves from supplements to the food supply, but the underlying issue remains the same: what is promised versus what is delivered.

Shaw Bakers LLC, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, has issued a public health alert for:

LA BOULANGERIE TURKEY PESTO & SWISS CHEESE POCKETS (8-count, 25.4 oz boxes)

The issue is not contamination, but misbranding and undeclared ingredients.

Some packages labeled as turkey-filled pastries were found to contain ham and cheese instead.

The affected products include:

• Lot Code: 04926
• Best By Date: February 18, 2027
• Packaged On: February 18, 2026
• Distribution: Costco locations across the Midwest

Federal officials stopped short of issuing a full recall because the product is no longer available for purchase. However, it may still be stored in consumers’ freezers, prompting the public health alert.

While no illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported, the implications extend beyond food safety.

For consumers with dietary restrictions, religious observances, or ingredient sensitivities, the substitution of pork for poultry is not a minor labeling error. It is a fundamental breach of trust.

Consumers are encouraged to check their freezers and return affected products to Costco for a refund.

A Larger Pattern: The Fragility of Consumer Trust

Taken together, these three cases reveal a pattern that regulators have been tracking with increasing concern.

In the supplement market, products are often sold under the banner of “natural” wellness while operating in a regulatory gray area. Unlike prescription drugs, dietary supplements do not require pre-market approval. Enforcement typically occurs only after testing reveals a problem.

By then, the products have often already reached consumers.

In the food sector, labeling errors may appear less dramatic, but they strike at the same core principle: the right of consumers to know what they are eating and putting into their bodies.

What Consumers Should Do Now

Public health officials recommend immediate and practical steps:

• Stop using any recalled supplement products
• Verify product labels, lot numbers, and expiration dates
• Return or discard affected items
• Consult a healthcare provider if adverse symptoms occur
• Report concerns through federal safety reporting systems

The Quiet Question Behind the Recalls

Each recall is, on its surface, a corrective action. A system working as intended.

But together, they raise a quieter, more persistent question:

How many products currently in circulation contain what they do not disclose?

In an era where convenience often outpaces oversight, the burden of vigilance is shifting.

Not entirely to regulators.
Not entirely to manufacturers.

But increasingly, to the consumer

MinneapoliMedia
Community. Culture. Civic Life.