Gatorade recalls 122,021 cases in 37 states over unlisted dyes
PepsiCo is recalling 122,021 cases of 28-ounce Gatorade in four flavors because the drinks contain yellow food dyes not listed on the label. The FDA rates it a Class II recall, meaning serious harm is unlikely. The drinks were sold in 37 states, and no illnesses have been reported.
Check the label on that big bottle of Gatorade in your fridge.
PepsiCo is recalling 122,021 cases of 28-ounce Gatorade because the drinks may contain Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6 or both, and the labels do not list them, according to the Food and Drug Administration's enforcement report. The company started the voluntary recall on Sept. 25. The FDA classified it on Oct. 2.
Four flavors are affected, all in 28-ounce bottles: Lemon Lime, Lemon Lime Zero, Orange and Orange Zero. No other sizes or flavors are included, Latin Times reported.
The recall lists 15 lot codes. They are 091026 DL, 091126 DL, 072226 DT, 072426 TL, 073126 TL, 072926 TL, 073026 TL, 081026 TL, 082126 OA, 080126 DL, 082026 DL, 083126 DT, 082526 KM, 090426 KM and 072726 TL. Their dates run from April 18 to June 8, 2027.
The drinks went to 37 states, from Alabama and Alaska to Washington and Wisconsin, including California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Both dyes are approved by the FDA, but federal rules require them to be named on the label. The FDA says it is possible but rare for some people to have an allergic-type reaction to color additives like Yellow 5, including itching or hives, NBC Chicago reported.
This is a Class II recall. That means the product may cause temporary or reversible health effects, but serious harm is unlikely. The FDA report did not list any illnesses, the Wausau Pilot & Review reported.
The Wausau paper said people with recalled bottles should not drink them and can ask the store where they bought them about returns or refunds. It also said anyone who drank one and has symptoms should contact a health care provider.
The recall comes as the FDA works with food makers to phase out petroleum-based dyes, including both yellows, Reader's Digest reported.
What we know: Four 28-ounce Gatorade flavors from 15 lots are recalled in 37 states.
What we don't: How the dyes ended up in drinks whose labels did not list them.
Where outlets agree NBC Chicago and the Wausau Pilot & Review both report that 122,021 cases of four 28-ounce Gatorade flavors were recalled across 37 states.
Where they differ Latin Times says no company press release was issued and buyers learned of the recall only from the FDA's routine report, while Reader's Digest says the FDA alerted consumers to the recall notice.