The FDA has recalled nearly 30 beverages so far in 2024, and most have been pulled from shelves for containing harmful ingredients.
All but four (86 percent) of the 28 were recalled because they contained something the company had not declared, including medications, bacteria and harmful chemicals.
A tea sold for pain relief was recalled for containing anti-inflammatory drugs that were not included on the label, while apple juice was recalled for containing high levels of arsenic, a toxic metal linked to an increased risk of cancer. bladder and skin.
These incidents come after several soft drink and flavoring products were also introduced. recalled for containing undeclared hazardous food dyes, including one that can cause cancer.
The FDA has recalled about 28 beverages so far in 2024, and most have been pulled from shelves for containing harmful ingredients.
Charles Boggini Company cola flavoring base recalled because it contained undeclared sulfites
The biggest beverage recall of the year so far was Fiji Water.
Some 1.9 million water bottles, manufactured by Natural Waters of Viti Limited, were recalled due to manganese and three types of bacteria detected in the water.
According to the CDC, manganese is a mineral the body needs to stay healthy, but at high levels it can cause damage to the brain.
The incident was classified as a Class III health hazard, meaning the bottled water was not likely to cause adverse health consequences.
Dr. Darin Detwiler, a former FDA and USDA advisor and food safety expert at Northeastern University in Boston, told DailyMail.com that new drinks can end up hitting the market very quickly without proper checks in place.
The number of recalls may be high compared to previous years, because not only are there more undeclared ingredients in beverages, but there is also increasing regulatory pressure for the FDA to clamp down on food and beverage companies. drinks, Dr. Detwiler said.
The 2024 numbers represent a slight increase from last year: At this point in 2023, the FDA had recalled 23 beverages.
The 2024 figure is also slightly lower than 2018, when there were 30 beverage recalls during the same period.
Tapee Tea was recalled for containing anti-inflammatory drugs that were not declared on the label
“A lot of beverages have been tested lately and a lot of it has to do with labeling and undeclared ingredients,” Dr. Detwiler said.
One of those drinking games. remembered this year were soft drinks from the Charles Boggini company: Pink Lemonade, Yellow Lemonade and Yellow Lemonade X, as well as a flavoring product called Cola Flavoring Base.
The pink and yellow lemonades were recalled because the company did not disclose that they contained food coloring Red 40 and Yellow 5 respectively.
Both chemicals contain benzidine, a human and animal carcinogen permitted at low, presumably safe levels.
However, companies must declare whether products contain it.
According to the FDA, ingestion of free benzidine increases the risk of cancer to just below the threshold of “concern,” or one case of cancer per million people.
Beverages are more difficult to regulate than foods or medications, Dr. Detwiler said, because ingredients can be added at different times before reaching the consumer.
“If everything was in cans or bottles, things might be different,” Dr. Detwiler said.
But with drinks in dispensers and jugs at fast food chains and restaurants, “people don’t necessarily see the ingredients that are in some of those drinks, and that becomes problematic.”
DailyMail.com used the US Food and Drug Administration’s recall information search and filtered out drinks recalled in 2024.
Tapee Tea was first recalled in August 2023, but was classified in January as a Class I health risk, meaning that when consumed, the product has a reasonable chance of causing “serious adverse consequences.” to health or death,” according to the FDA.
The FDA tested samples of the tea, made by Kentucky-based The Wiedemann Company and marketed for pain relief, and found that it contained the drugs dexamethasone and piroxicam, which were not listed on the label.
Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid commonly used to treat inflammatory conditions, but it can reduce an individual’s ability to fight infections and cause high blood sugar, muscle injuries, and psychiatric problems.
The medication can also cause serious side effects when combined with other medications, especially because the consumer does not know they are taking it.
Piroxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that may increase the risk of heart problems, such as heart attacks or strokes, as well as fatal bleeding, ulcers, and perforations of the stomach and intestines.
In April, New York-based PepsiCo recalled some sugar-free and caffeine-free Schweppes Zero Sugar Ginger Ale. after an internal investigation discovered that it actually contained total sugar.
Customers who purchased the product were advised to throw it away, especially if they needed to monitor their blood sugar, such as diabetics.
PepsiCo recalled some sugar-free and caffeine-free Schweppes Zero Sugar Ginger Ales on March 9 because they contain “total sugar,” according to the FDA.
The FDA announced that New York-based PepsiCo has voluntarily recalled more than 2,000 cases of its Mug Root Beer because the cans actually contained Mug Zero Sugar root beer.
This was considered a Class II problem, meaning “the product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”
Just a week later, PepsiCo had to recall another drink due to a similar sugar mix-up.
The company voluntarily recalled more than 2,000 cases of its Mug Root Beer because the cans actually contained Mug Zero Sugar root beer.
Meanwhile, nearly 25,000 boxes of Martinelli apple juice were also recalled in April due to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic.
According to the FDA, S. Martinelli & Company voluntarily recalled 24,500 cases (containing 147,100 bottles) of its Gold Medal apple juice sold in one-liter glass bottles.
Arsenic, a metal found naturally in the Earth’s crust, is used in pesticides and processes such as cement manufacturing.
Inorganic arsenic compounds, such as those found in water, are highly toxic, while organic compounds, such as those found in shellfish, are less harmful.
Repeated exposure to inorganic arsenic can damage DNA, weaken the immune system, and lead to the formation of cancer cells, as well as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Arsenic can enter food when farmers use it as a pesticide and fertilizer, and it is a known carcinogen.
Chronic exposure has been linked to an increased risk of bladder and skin cancer, as well as cancer of the lung, digestive tract, liver, kidney, and lymphatic system.
More than one million cans of Enfamil Nutramigen hypoallergenic powdered infant formula were pulled from shelves because they were suspected of being contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria.
Beverage companies selling nationwide want to provide customers with a consistent flavor and color experience, but regulations on certain ingredients vary from state to state.
What ends up happening is that “drink consistency, taste and experience are prioritized over food safety,” Dr. Detwiler told this website.
Sometimes beverage companies themselves do not adequately understand the requirements.
“Sometimes it’s like we met the requirements when we were selling in this state, but then when we started selling it to other states…we didn’t realize the regulatory implications of selling it across state lines,” he said. aggregate.
The FDA has also recalled several infant formulas from the market.
A powdered infant formula manufactured by Mead Johnson & Company has been recalled over fears it was contaminated with bacteria that could cause life-threatening health complications in babies.
More than 1 million cans of Enfamil Nutramigen hypoallergenic powdered infant formula, a baby formula made for babies with a cow’s milk allergy – were removed from shelves due to the possible presence of Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria.
Cronobacter sakazakii is a bacteria that lives in dry places, such as powdered milk, herbal teas, and powdered infant formulas, and infections with the bacteria can cause swelling of the brain and seizures in babies.
Two goat milk formula products for toddlers from California company Sammy’s Milk were recalled in April over misleading claims on the company’s website and social media.
The company stated that the product was safe for use as the sole source of nutrition for very small children.
But toddler formula with goat’s milk is not recommended for babies younger than 12 months, due to the excess protein content and potential stress placed on the baby’s kidneys.
It also lacks enough essential nutrients that babies need for tissue and brain development and growth.
