Drinking Water Recall As FDA Sets Risk Level

Bottles of drinking water have been recalled as they may contain dangerous bacteria.

West Virginia-based Berkeley Club Beverages, Inc. has voluntarily recalled more than 150,000 bottles of water as they may contain coliform bacteria. The products have now been given a Class III risk classification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A Class III is awarded when "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 awarded to recalled products.

In total, 151,397 bottles have been recalled, which bear the codes 090326, 090426, 090526, and 090626. They were distributed in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia only.

Coliform bacteria are organisms present in the environment and in the feces of all warm-blooded animals, including humans. While some coliforms are unlikely to cause illness, if it is detected in drinking water it indicates that other pathogens which can cause illness are present.

A stock image of a water bottles on an assembly line. The recalled products have been given a Class III risk classification by the FDA. GETTY

E.coli is a type of coliform, and certain strains can cause illness in different parts of the body. According to the FDA, if any coliform organisms "are detected in source water, bottlers must conduct follow-up testing to determine whether any of the coliform organisms are E. coli."

The FDA notice for this recall does not indicate whether E.coli specifically was detected in the impacted products.

Newsweek has contacted Berkeley Club Beverages, Inc. for comment via email outside of regular working hours.

Symptoms of E.coli generally appear between three to five days after infection. Most commonly, E.coli will impact your digestive system and cause gastroenteritis, symptoms of which include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, loss of appetite, fever and fatigue. While unpleasant, it does not usually need to be treated by a doctor, and most of the time symptoms go away after a few days.

Sometimes the bacterium can cause infections elsewhere. If E. coli infects parts of your urinary tract, you may experience abdominal or pelvic pain and feel a burning sensation when you pee, as well as feeling the need to urinate more frequently.

These 150,000 bottles are not the only water products that have been recalled this year. In March, 70,000 cases of Fiji Natural Artesian Water bottles were voluntarily recalled due to high levels of manganese. That recall was also given a Class III risk definition by the FDA.

In April, 1 liter bottles of "Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water Naturally Alkaline Electrolytes Deep Well Water" were voluntarily withdrawn after consumers complained of floating particles.