Most people are turning to bottled water nowadays as a healthier, cleaner option for their every day drinking water. And some are using delivery services like Amazon to get their water cheaper. But you might want to check your stash of water bottles with this huge recall of bottled water.
Natural Waters of Viti Limited has voluntarily recalled 78,533 cases of Fiji Natural Artesian Water due to firm testing that found elevated levels of manganese and three bacteria, according to a report by the United States Department of Food and Agriculture (FDA).
The recall affects about 1.9 million 500 milliliter water bottles sold in 24-pack cases. The products were sold on Amazon.com from February 1, 2024, through March 3, 2024. and can be identified by the following information.
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Case UPC Code: 6 32565 00004 3
Bottle UPC Code: 6 32565 00001 2
Dates: November 11, 2023, November 12, 2023, November 13, 2023, November 24, 2023, and November 25, 2023
This is an update to a previous recall that occurred in March.
"Firm testing revealed manganese in addition to three bacterial genera," the FDA initially said in a recall statement.
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However, the FDA issued an update last week, which lowered the classification of the water bottle recall to a Class III recall.
The FDA website states that a Class III recall is "a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences."
Manganese is a mineral the body needs to stay healthy. To date, studies have not shown any harm from the manganese in food and beverages, but some people have developed manganese toxicity by consuming water containing very high levels of manganese.
How to Tell if Bottled Water Goes Bad?
Plastic water bottles are slightly permeable and can leach chemicals into the water over time. This is particularly a problem in non-bpa free plastic and water bottled in milk jug plastic. If your water has a strange taste or smell we recommend you discard it.
If your bottle is in the heat for long periods of time or frozen and unthawed over and over again, it may compromise you bottle and leak infections.
Replacing your water every six months is recommended.
How to Store Water to Extend Its Shelf Life
To ensure the safety and quality of your water, it’s essential that you store it securely. Practicing proper food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness. In order to confirm that your water will have a long shelf-life, you should:
- Keep bottled water stored at room temperature
- Store in a dry area away from sunlight
- Never store bottled water near cleaning products or other chemicals
- Never leave bottled water in a hot car
When it comes to drinking bottled water that has been stored, you should be wary of where it was stored, for how long it was stored, and in what conditions it was stored. If you water was stored in a cool or refrigerated area out of direct sunlight, the bottled water should be safe to drink.
In a statement to KSNT news in Kansas, a spokesperson for Fiji said: "The FDA classification announced yesterday relates to a matter from several months ago that never posed any health or safety risk."
"It affected products that were sold through only one distributor, and 99% of all those affected bottles were reclaimed with the remainder in warehouses to be returned. There is no higher priority to us than the safety and quality of Fiji Water," the spokesperson told the local news outlet. "There is no health or safety risk posed from manganese or bacteria in the recalled lots of FIJI Water. Moreover, FIJI Water conducts regular testing to ensure consumers enjoy the soft, smooth taste of FIJI Water that they expect and love."
Consumers who purchases the recalled product are being notified by telephone, but those with questions or concerns can contact the FIJI Water hotline at 1-866-406-4149.
