MOMA food recall - rodent infestation - worried after we ate 6 contaminated boxes

[SummerCycling]

MOMA announced a week or so ago that a certain list of their products were affected by a rodent infestation. I checked my cupboard and had never bought those items

This evening, Ocado has emailed me multiple times refunding for each order of affected MOMA Raspberry & Apple Overnight Oats Gluten Free 400g I had bought (best before date 24/04/2026-12/03/2027). This has now been added to the list of contaminated food.

My family had ordered 9 boxes, we have 3 remaining. So we have eaten 6 contaminated boxes.

I am incredibly stressed and worried by this.

Is there anyone else affected by this? Looking forward to your replies.

Ocado email (one of many with the various delivery dates):

Our supplier MOMA is recalling Raspberry & Apple Overnight Oats Gluten Free 400g we delivered to you on 21/12/2025 due to potential pest contamination during the manufacture of these batches. If you have any further questions please contact the supplier.

The affected items have a Best before date between 24/04/2026-12/03/2027. Our systems show that you have been sent one or more of these items. Please check if you have any affected items, do not consume and dispose safely.

We will automatically process a full refund on your behalf. Please allow 7-10 working days for this to appear on your statement. For more information, please contact MOMA on [email protected]

On behalf of MOMA we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Kind Regards,

The Ocado Customer Service Team

I've been to the GP about it. Didn't seem concerned - 'I've got mice in my kitchen' she said.

That sounds very laid back for something potentially very, very serious. I looked it up and a quick search said this:

Diseases Transmitted by Contaminated Food
Eating food tainted by mice can lead to several dangerous infections, including:

• Salmonellosis: A common bacterial infection caused by eating food contaminated with rodent feces, leading to severe gastrointestinal illness.
• Rentokil UK
• Hantavirus: A severe respiratory disease that can be transmitted through food contaminated with rodent urine, saliva, or feces.
• GOV.UK +1
• Rat-bite Fever: Despite the name, this can be contracted by consuming food contaminated with the feces or urine of infected mice.
• Rentokil UK
• Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCMV): A viral disease transmitted via contaminated food.

It's likely that it's only a chance it was affected. They probably can't know which packs are affected so they include all in a batch in the recall.

Did they specify rodents or "just" pests?

Also how long ago would you have eaten some? Surely a while ago and you've been ok?

I don't blame you for being stressed out but chances are you're fine

Are you using AI, OP?

I couldn’t be bothered to be bothered, tbh.

My search answer was an AI summary but it provided reliable sources: Rentakil and Gov UK. Please see attached screenshot.

Maybe I am more scared because I had cancer treatments for years including various chemos and immune therapies, radiotherapy etc and live in terror of stage IV.

Thank you for your kind reply.

They specified 'mouse infestation'

The last pack I ate I finished the day before yesterday. I eat overnight oats for breakfast every day, mixed with nuts, seeds, kefir and milk.

But if you ate them ages ago then didn't get sick then you're fine surely?

If someone was gonna get sick from food it would happen while it's being digested surely? Not weeks later?

I had one from Ocado saying the biscuits I ate had loads of cyanide in them. I wrote back saying I'm scared etc but they just ignored me. I presumably survived. But I can see why you get worried.

I have been eating them since December, right up to two days ago. I don't eat this exact product every day - I also buy other overnight oats.

I have eaten 6 contaminated boxes full, and have 3 remaining. All 9 are in the list of affected batches.

It depends on what disease, not all diseases or effects are instant or even evident soon.

I am so upset and scared. But it's too late now..

Sorry to hear you were told your food might have contained cyanide. That's equally terrible. I really hope it somehow wasn't in the food you actually ate.

I'm sorry for you. But please try not to panic.
It didn't taste weird, you didn't find any animals or droppings in there.

I honestly think you'll be OK. There are pests all around food manufacture, it's just kept to a minimum but never 100% absent.

I've had these recall emails too. It's a brand I buy and eat a lot of. I'm just going to try and get a refund and switch brands. I'm pretty sure if you ate a contaminated sachet you would be ill immediately afterwards. Horrid though.

@BillieWiper Thanks

Most households, or a lot of households have mice. Its not particularly unusual

Yes there are diseases they can carry and transmit but its not likely, possible but not likely becuase presumably your boxes were unopened, un nibbled, un tampered with?

I'm sorry to hear you also ate affected food. It is horrid, you are spot on.

I ate almost all of it, the others in my family rarely eat overnight oats so that is at least one good thing. But I do feel very worried.

Ocado wrote to me this evening with the information and refund at the same time. I hope you receive your refunds asap.

I will never buy anything from MOMA again. It's a pity, their overnight oats were tasty but this is awful. Especially the drip-feed of which products were affected. How can they not have known for so long that there were infestations of mice?

The boxes look fine from the outside, but the mice infestation was presumably where the food was before or during it was put into the packaging.

Mice on the floor or under the cupboards is one thing (still horrible inside a home) but an 'infestation' is on another level plus where there is food.

I cant imagine giving this much thought to be honest.

Potential risk.......potential! Chill out. They have to be super careful. If the boxes of oats you ate had rat piss all over them you would probably know about it.

Wouldn't you notice if the packaging had been nibbled? Like many people we've had mice in our kitchen (if it is mice) and they make a heck of a mess.

Mice in the house is an infestation, thats what its called because they're everywhere.

I'm in the same situation as you. Had multiple deliveries of Moma porridge from Ocado since November last year up to this month. And they've all been listed as from the recalled batches... but we've already eaten them all!

We're all still standing with no illness at all - so I'm not going to worry about it. Quite frankly we're probably more at risk from the cats walking across the kitchen countertops with their stinky paws!

I would say don't fret anymore. They have to be this drastic and recall everything when something is reported. It could even be they don't have conclusive evidence but if they suspect they have to act.

The wording is "potential pest contamination"

they may have detected a mouse or a vole, it doesn't necessarily mean the mouse or mice have actually done anything.

I noticed in Waitrose they have withdrawn all the boxes and containers off the shelves.

I've been eating a sachet a day for breakfast for 18 months and honestly I haven't had any ill effects.

i know this sort of thing can be anxiety inducing but I wouldn't be put off their product, it can happen to any food manufacturer and not get detected. Because they found out they had to declare it.

I completely understand that you are alarmed, but please try to dial it down.
Unless you are at risk, because you’re pregnant or undergoing treatment for a vulnerable condition, you will be fine, and if those conditions apply talk to your GP, or 111, or your health team.

I have eaten 6 contaminated boxes full

No you have potentially eaten some contaminated food, highly unlikely but there is a potential risk hence everything has to be recalled. You do realise there may be absolutely nothing wrong with the food you ate, chances are it was all perfectly fine.

Ah you are kind to be concerned but I don't think I have eaten contaminated food. I think they have to issue a blanket ban about an entire batch that was prepared or stored in a certain time.

Can anyone recommend a different brand of apple and cinnamon porridge? :)

@SkaterGrrrrl I don't eat porridge often but my kids seem to like this which you add to plain porridge
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/just-spices-apple-cinnamon-porridge-spice/434148-810366-810367

It was a third party supplier. So they just as likely supply the other brands you'd be switching to.

In any case, it's been discovered, investigated, confirmed and then a full recall. The 'I'll never buy them again' response is what encourages companies to cover up contamination events.