Over a million water bottles sold on Amazon are being recalled due to concerns about manganese and bacterial contamination.
The FDA announced the recall on May 23, affecting 78,533 cases of Fiji Natural Artesian Water. The recall was initiated by Fiji's parent company, Natural Waters of Viti Limited, in March after receiving complaints about discoloration in some products.
FDA Confirmed Traces of Contamination in the Affected Products
FDA testing confirmed traces of contamination in the affected products, though it's deemed unlikely to cause health issues.
Melissa England, a spokesperson for The Wonderful Company representing Fiji Natural Artesian Water, assured that the recall pertained to a past issue and didn't pose significant health risks.
She noted that the majority of the affected bottles were already recovered, with the rest stored in warehouses for return. Fiji Water emphasized its commitment to safety and quality, stating that the recalled lots posed no health risk due to manganese or bacteria.
According to the CDC, while manganese is important for health, enormous levels can damage the brain. The FDA classified the recall as class three, signifying a low likelihood of adverse health impacts.
Fiji Water specified that the affected products were Fiji Water 500mL (24-packs) sold on Amazon between February 1, 2024, and March 3, 2024, with specific rotation dates in November 2023.
England voiced that most of the recalled bottles have been recovered, and the remaining ones are collected in warehouses.
Manganese occurs naturally in water, soil, and air. Although essential, excessive exposure to manganese can lead to neurological issues, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA recommends a health advisory level of 0.3 milligrams per liter for manganese in drinking water, with a secondary guideline of 0.05 milligrams per liter to address taste concerns and discoloration.
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Recall Pertains Specific Batches of Water Sold Exclusively on Amazon
As per Fiji's declaration, the recall refers entirely to particular batches of water sold particularly on Amazon between February 1 and March 3 of this year.
These affected products were packaged in 24-packs of 500-milliliter bottles, identifiable by production dates (PRD) of Nov. 11, 2023, Nov. 12, 2023, Nov. 13, 2023, Nov. 24, 2023, or Nov. 25, 2023. The Case UPC Code for the recalled items is 632565000043, while the bottle UPC is 632565000012.
"Fiji Water remains safe for purchase and consumption," the company assured on X, clarifying that this quality issue specifically impacts the designated lots sold on Amazon.com.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this recall is categorized as Class III, the least severe classification, indicating that exposure to or consumption of the affected products is "not likely to cause adverse health consequences."
A representative from The Wonderful Company, representing Fiji, informed that the majority of the recalled bottles had been retrieved.
"The FDA classification... pertains to an issue from several months ago that posed no health or safety risk," the spokesperson stated. "It impacted products sold through a single distributor, with 99% of the affected bottles already recovered, and the remainder stored in warehouses for return.
Our utmost priority is the safety and quality of Fiji Water, and there is no health or safety risk associated with manganese or bacteria in the recalled Fiji lots. Additionally, Fiji Water undergoes regular testing to ensure consumers continue to enjoy its expected smooth taste."
Customers with queries about the recall are encouraged to contact Fiji Water at 1-866-406-4149.
