Glass found in a food jar you probably have in your pantry—check yours now

When you reach for a familiar jar to spice up your lunch, you expect a burst of flavour—not a hidden danger.

This week, that expectation was shattered for Australians when Fehlbergs Pickled Sliced Jalapeños Chilli Medley was recalled nationwide.

Glass fragments inside the jar have turned a simple meal into a potential hazard.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand announced on 15 October 2025 that Riviana Foods Pty Ltd is recalling the 470g jars sold across Coles, Woolworths, and IGA stores.

The affected jars carry a best-before date of 30 April 2028.

Consumers are warned that eating the product could cause illness or injury and should return it to the store for a full refund.

If you have already eaten the jalapeños and are concerned, seek medical advice immediately.

How glass contamination happens

Glass contamination in food usually occurs during manufacturing, often when glass containers break or equipment malfunctions.

Sometimes a glass ingredient container shatters near the production line, or mechanical faults in bottling equipment introduce fragments into the final product.

For seniors, the risk is heightened—glass fragments can injure the mouth, throat, and digestive system, and may be hard to spot among chopped vegetables in brine.

A troubling pattern of recalls

This recall is part of a troubling trend.

Just last month, Aldi recalled Urban Eats Japanese Style Vegetable Gyoza over glass contamination, and other recent recalls have involved metal fragments in wholefood balls and protein products.

Earlier this year, Del Monte Foods recalled more than 197,000 cans of cut green beans due to foreign objects, showing that contamination can affect multiple food categories and manufacturers.

Common hazards include plastic, glass, rocks, and metal shards—all posing choking risks and potential internal injury.

Staying alert for food safety

Food recalls are a reminder to stay alert about what’s on your plate.

Before eating any jarred or canned products, give them a visual check—look for unusual particles, cloudiness, or anything that seems off.

Monitor the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website for current recalls and report any concerns to retailers or manufacturers.

Your vigilance could prevent harm to yourself and others.

When in doubt, play it safe

The food industry responds quickly when contamination is detected, and recalls are issued to protect consumers.

While recent foreign matter recalls are worrying, they also show safety systems are working.

When in doubt about any food—whether recalled or just looking suspicious—err on the side of caution.

Your health is far more important than a few dollars saved.

Food recalls can happen across a wide range of products, not just jarred jalapeños, and it’s useful to see how other items have been affected by similar safety issues.

One recent example involved frozen and packaged foods being pulled from shelves due to contamination risks, showing that vigilance in checking pantry items is always important.

Exploring these cases can help you understand what to watch for and how to respond if you encounter a recall in your own kitchen.

Read more: Double trouble: Popular frozen and packaged foods recalled for contamination risks

Have you checked your pantry for the recalled jalapeños, and how do you stay informed about food safety?