Juice Drinks Recall Update as FDA Sets Risk Level

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revealed the risk level for the recalls of several juice products as Class II.

Youngstown Grape Distributors, Inc. pulled four of its juices from shelves on October 3, because "a portion of the production made did not complete the High Pressure Processing (HPP) treatment."

HPP is used to prolong the product shelf-life, prevent spoilage and significantly reduce the risk of pathogens such as salmonella, listeria monocytogenes and diarrheagenic E. coli., which can lead to serious illness if consumed.

The firm, based in Reedley, California, voluntarily issued the recall at the beginning of this month, after it received complaints about spoiled juices, and stressed that "there have been no reports of illness associated with these products to date."

Newsweek has contacted Youngstown Grape Distributors, Inc. to ask if this was still the case and for any further comment.

In an update issued on Tuesday, the FDA classed the recalls as Class II, which is when the "use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

This is the second-highest risk classification, behind Class I which is issued in "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."

Class III is for when "a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences."

The following products have been affected by the recall:

Happy Moose Juice Tropical Roots

• Packaged in a plastic 12 fl. oz. bottle
• UPC: 860012096503
• Lot: H240903-E
• Enjoy by date: 12/02/2024

Happy Moose Juice Strawberry Field

• Packaged in a plastic 12 fl. oz. bottle
• UPC: 86617500388
• Lot: H240903-H
• Enjoy by date: 12/02/2024

Farmers Juice Focus Carrot Digest

• Packaged in a 12 fl. oz. bottle
• UPC: 00860006798116
• Lot: H240930-E (This is not printed on the bottle)

Farmers Juice Watermelon Hydration

• Packaged in a 12 fl. oz. bottle
• Lot: H240930-C (This is not printed on the bottle)

Stock photo of orange juice, taken on January 19, 2023 in Miami, Florida. The FDA has revealed the risk classification for a juice recall. Getty

The recall has hit a total of 1,701 bottles of Happy Moose Juice Tropical Roots, 1,017 bottles of Happy Moose Juice Strawberry Field, 2,521 bottles of Farmers Juice Focus Carrot Digest and 1,953 bottles of Farmers Juice Watermelon Hydration.

These products are distributed in California, Texas, Washington, Kentucky, North Carolina, New York, Illinois, Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Connecticut, Michigan, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Missouri, Tennessee, Nebraska, Kansas, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Florida, South Carolina, Indiana, New Jersey, Iowa, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee, Maine, Utah, California, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho and Nevada.