Sodas, juices and other drinks recalled by FDA over harmful chemicals

Think before you drink. 

The FDA has recalled 28 beverages so far in 2024, The Daily Mail reported. All but four of the drinks were recalled because they had drugs, bacteria or harmful chemicals in them that the company didn’t disclose.

The recalled drinks include a pain-relieving tea called Himalayan pain relief tea, which didn’t disclose an anti-inflammatory medication ingredient on its label. Martinelli’s Apple Juice was also recalled because it contained arsenic, a toxic metal that may increase the risk of bladder and skin cancer.

Around 1.9 million bottles of Fiji Water, made by Natural Waters of Viti Limited, were recalled after three types of bacteria were found in the water in addition to the mineral manganese, which in high amounts can cause brain damage.

And just recently, four drinks produced by Charles Boggini Company called Pink Lemonade, Yellow Lemonade and Yellow Lemonade X, as well as the flavoring Cola Flavoring Base were recalled over food dyes linked to cancer risk. Those dyes, which were not disclosed by the company as an ingredient, include Red40 and Yellow 5.

The dyes have benzidine, which is carcinogenic to humans and animals. The Cola Flavoring contained undeclared sulfites, preservatives that can cause allergic skin reactions, digestive issues, and asthma in people with sulfite sensitivity, according to Cleveland Clinic.

A former FDA and USDA advisor and food safety expert at Northeastern University in Boston said that drinks are sometimes sold to the public before proper checks are done on them.

“There are a lot of drinks that have been scrutinized of late and a lot of it has to do with labeling and undeclared ingredients,” Dr. Detwiler told the Daily Mail. 

The FDA faces pressure to crack down on food and beverage companies, Detwiler explained. 

Here’s a list of some of the beverages recalled so far this year:

1. Schweppes Zero Sugar Gingerale
2. PepsiCo’s Mug Root Beer 
3. Martinelli’s Apple Juice
4. Natural Waters of Viti Limited’s Fiji Water 
5. Charles Boggini Company’s Cola Flavoring Base
6. Charles Boggini Company’s Pink Lemonade 
7. Charles Boggini Company’s Yellow Lemonade 
8. Charles Boggini Company’s Yellow Lemonade X
9. The Wiedemann Company’s Tapee Tea 
10. Rise Brewing Organic Original Oat Milk 
11. Rise Brewing Organic Vanilla Oat Milk
12. Nordic Naturals Baby’s Vitamin D3 Liquid 
13. Barsotti Organic Carrot Juice 
14. Trader Joe’s 100% Juice Organic Carrot Juice 
15. Powerade Zero Mixed Berry 
16. Powerade Zero Fruit Punch 
17. Powerade Mountain Berry Blast 
18. Waiakea Hawaiin Volcanic Water 
19. Enfamil Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder 
20. House of Coffee Beans bags 
21. Longreen Reishi Coffee
22. Longreen Cordyceps coffee
23. Xlim Express Coffee 
24. Yogi Echinacea Immune Support Tea 
25. Sammy’s Milk Goat Milk Toddler Formula 
26. Enfamil Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder 
27. Crecelac Powdered Goat Milk Infant Formula
28. Mt.Capra Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit