FDA Update: Recall Of Fiji Natural Artesian Water Bottles

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an update regarding a previous recall for water bottles sold nationwide. In March, the FDA announced a recall of over 70,000 cases of Fiji Natural Artesian Water bottles over concerns that they were contaminated with manganese. Firm testing revealed manganese in addition to three bacterial genera, the FDA said in a recall statement.

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." This means that while there were initial concerns about the safety of the water, further investigation has determined that the risks are minimal.

In comparison, a Class I recall from the FDA indicates "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death." Therefore, consumers can feel more at ease knowing that the risk associated with the Fiji water bottles is significantly lower than initially thought.

On social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Fiji responded to questions regarding the recall from March. They stated, "We learned of a quality issue affecting select FIJI Water 500mL (24-Pack) cases with PRD dates of Nov. 11, 2023, Nov. 12, 2023, Nov. 13, 2023, Nov. 24, 2023, and Nov. 25, 2023 sold through Amazon.com." This indicates that specific cases, rather than the entire product line, were affected by the contamination concerns.

Fiji further clarified that "the notice sent by Amazon does not accurately reflect the issue. We were notified of a quality issue with complaints of discoloration in select products with PRD dates of Nov. 11, 12, 13, 2023, and Nov. 24, 25, 2023." The company assured consumers that FIJI Water remains safe to buy and consume, emphasizing that the quality issue specifically affected certain lots sold on Amazon.com between February 1, 2024, and March 3, 2024.

In a statement to KSNT news in Kansas, a spokesperson for Fiji highlighted that the FDA classification relates to a matter from several months ago that never posed any health or safety risk. They emphasized, "There is no higher priority to us than the safety and quality of Fiji Water." The spokesperson also reassured the public that regular testing ensures that consumers continue to enjoy the quality they expect from FIJI Water.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), manganese is a trace element, and while necessary in small quantities, excessive exposure can be harmful. The CDC warns that at high levels, manganese can cause damage to the brain. Thus, the FDA's lowered classification reflects a thorough review of the potential risks, ensuring that consumers can make informed choices about their water products.