Drinking water recall update as two warnings end

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently terminated recalls for two drinking water brands that were issued earlier this year.

On November 27, the agency ended a Class III recall for Fiji Water and ceased another for Berkeley Club Beverages on November 13. Fiji’s recall wrapped after eight months and Berkeley Club’s lasted around two months.

The terminations come as other drinking water brand recalls remain in place.

Fiji Water Recall

In March, more than 78,500 cases of Fiji Natural Artesian Water 500 mL with a case code of 6 32565 00004 3 and bottle code of 6 32565 00001 2 were recalled after company testing revealed levels of manganese and three bacterial genera, though the bacteria identified were nonpathogenic and non-harmful, a Fiji spokesperson previously told Newsweek. The recall was resolved immediately, though it took months for the FDA to confirm that the product had been removed from sale.

“A recall will be terminated when FDA determines that all reasonable efforts have been made to remove or correct the product in accordance with the recall strategy, and when it is reasonable to assume that the product subject to the recall has been removed and proper disposition or correction has been made commensurate with the degree of hazard of the recalled product,” the FDA said on its website.

The water was distributed nationwide through online sales. The FDA issued a Class III classification for the recall in late May.

A Class III is given in “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.” It is the least serious of the three risk levels designated to recalled products.

Berkeley Club Beverages

Earlier in November, the FDA also terminated a recall for Berkeley Club Beverages water that had been issued in September, when the company voluntarily recalled more than 1,000 bottles of water over concerns that they could have contained coliform bacteria. The products were given a Class III risk classification by the FDA on November 8.

The FDA erroneously reported the number of recalled bottles at over 151,000 when the recall was originally posted to its website.

A Berkeley Club spokesperson previously told Newsweek that the FDA’s original number was a “tremendous mistake” and that most bottles were recovered, quarantined and destroyed. The company also noted that no illnesses were reported.

Ongoing Drinking Water Recalls

Despite the recent terminations, at least two other drinking water brands are still recalled, according to FDA records.

Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water

Ongoing recalls include more than 3,800 cases of Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water after customers complained of “floating particles” in the water. The recall was issued in November 2023.

The water was distributed in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Michigan, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Colorado.

The recall has yet to be updated on the FDA website, though a spokesperson for Waiakea told Newsweek that company officials have met with the FDA and were told that the recall was terminated in November.

Real Water

An FDA Class I recall, the most severe, in which there is risk of serious health impacts or death from exposing the recalled product, was issued for Real Alkalized Water, packed in 16.9 oz., 1 Liter, 1.5 Liter, 1-Gallon and 5-Gallon plastic bottles in May 2021 after the FDA was notified of cases of acute liver failure after consumption of Real Water, which led to multiple investigations from the FDA and Department of Justice, as well as several ongoing lawsuits against the company.

The company ceased operations following the recall until it could comply with FDA standards, which it has yet to do.

The web address given in the recall led to a foreign gambling site.