FIJI Water Recalled 1.9 Million Bottles of Water After Quality Issues Found

The FDA reported that a popular brand of bottle water, FIJI, recalled nearly 1.9 bottles because tests found bacteria and elevated levels of manganese.

May 25, 2024 - 18:00
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FIJI Water Recalled 1.9 Million Bottles of Water After Quality Issues Found
Fiji Water Recall
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Natural Waters of Viti Limited has voluntarily recalled nearly 1.9 million bottles of FIJI Water because testing found manganese and three bacteria. Neither have been found to pose a health risk. The recall was initiated on March 4 and reported by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on May 23 under a Class III classification, the lowest FDA recall classification, which means the recalled product will not cause adverse health consequences.

The recalled products are:

78,533 cases of FIJI Natural Artesian Water
500-milliliter bottles sold in 24-packs
Case UPC: 6 32565 00004 3
Bottle UPC: 6 32565 00001 2
Bottle Dates: Nov. 11, 2023, Nov. 12, 2023, Nov. 13, 2023, Nov. 24, 2023, and Nov. 25, 2023

The bottles were sold exclusively online via Amazon.com. The company has reclaimed 99% of impacted bottles and the remaining 1% are being held in warehouses and no longer available for purchase. Consumers who may have received the impacted products have been informed of the recall. 

According to a FIJI Water spokesperson, "The FDA classification announced relates to a matter from several months ago that never posed any health or safety risk. It affected products that were sold through only one distributor, and 99% of all those affected bottles were reclaimed with the remainder in warehouses to be returned. There is no higher priority to us than the safety and quality of Fiji Water. There is no health or safety risk posed from manganese or bacteria in the recalled lots of FIJI Water. Moreover, FIJI Water conducts regular testing to ensure consumers enjoy the soft, smooth taste of FIJI Water that they expect and love.”

What Is Manganese?

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), manganese is a naturally occurring mineral found in the air, soil, and water. Though it is an essential nutrient for humans, overexposure can have risks, like problems with memory, attention, and motor skills.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that adults and children who drink water with high levels of manganese for a long time experience loss of sex drive and sperm damage (in male adults), problems with the nervous system, and undesirable effects on brain development.

What To Do If You Have the Recalled Products at Home

Customers who received the recalled products were notified directly and all products have been reclaimed. If you have any of the recalled bottles of water at home, do not drink the water. Return it to where you bought the product for a refund. If you have any questions, contact the FIJI Water hotline at 1-866-406-4149.