Producers of Fiji Natural Artesian Water have recalled about 1.9 million bottles of water after tests found the bottles contained manganese and three types of bacteria. The Natural Waters of Viti Limited recall was first announced in March but was announced late last week.
A Fiji spokesperson said the bottles were sold on Amazon and consumers who had purchased water from Amazon were notified. health. Amazon sold the lots between February 1 and March 3.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approximately 79,000 cases of 500mL (24 packs) of Fiji Natural Water were included in the recall. All affected cases have a production date of November 11, 2023, November 12, 2023, November 13, 2023, November 24, 2023, or November 25, 2023. The UPC code for the case is 632565000043. The UPC code for individual bottles is 632565000012.
Fiji Water said through
The company later wrote that Amazon's notifications were “overestimated.” “We have no reason to believe there is a health or safety issue,” he said. “We have been diligently investigating this matter and are working with third-party labs on this quality issue.”
According to the FDA, this is a Class III recall, meaning it is “unlikely to cause adverse health effects.” (The class I remember is the most serious, meaning the product can cause serious health problems or even death.)
Manganese is a naturally occurring element found in many types of rocks and soil, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Manganese is a trace element and is necessary for health, but high levels in the body can affect the nervous system and cause behavioral changes.
Manganese can also cross the blood-brain barrier and has caused sperm damage and male reproductive problems in laboratory animals fed high levels of the mineral.
Manganese occurs naturally at low levels in soybeans, nuts, bottled water, and tap water. However, the FDA sets the maximum allowable concentration of manganese in bottled water at 0.05 mg per liter. It is unclear how much manganese was found in the recalled bottles.
Bacteria in water have the potential to cause illness, but this largely depends on the type of bacteria found. Fiji Water and the FDA did not provide further information.
A Fiji Water spokesperson said: health That means the problem has been solved.
“One customer was involved and there was no risk to health or safety,” the spokesperson said. Fiji Water said it had “undertaken an assessment of manganese, naturally occurring minerals and bacteria levels and consumers can be assured there is no risk”. “Simply put, we have recalled a limited number of products because they do not meet the strict quality standards we adhere to.”
The spokesperson added: “The product has been voluntarily recalled immediately and 99 per cent of the affected bottles have been recalled and the remainder will be returned to warehouse.” “There are currently no issues of concern with Fiji Water.”
If you find a bottle or case of affected water in your home, contact Fiji Water at 1.866.406.4149 to inquire about refunds and water disposal.