PepsiCo has pulled more than 122,000 cases of Gatorade off shelves across the United States after the drinks were found to contain undeclared food dyes that were not listed on the product labels. Texas is among the states where the affected bottles were distributed.
The recall covers 122,021 cases of 28-ounce Gatorade bottles in four flavors: Lemon Lime, Lemon Lime Zero, Orange and Orange Zero. The products contain Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 color additives that were not disclosed on the packaging as required by federal law.
PepsiCo initiated the recall on September 25 and the Food and Drug Administration classified it as a Class II recall on October 2. A Class II designation means exposure to the product could result in temporary or reversible health effects with a low risk of serious consequences.
The FDA notes that while both Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 are approved food colorings, they must be clearly labeled. In rare cases Yellow No. 5 has been linked to allergic-type reactions such as itching or hives in certain individuals.
Fifteen lot numbers are included in the recall with expiration dates ranging into 2027. Consumers who purchased 28-ounce bottles of the affected flavors should check the lot number printed on their bottles against the full list published by the FDA.
The affected lot numbers are 091026 DL, 091126 DL, 072226 DT, 072426 TL, 073126 TL, 072926 TL, 073026 TL, 081026 TL, 082126 OA, 080126 DL, 082026 DL, 083126 DT, 082526 KM, 090426 KM and 072726 TL.
The recalled Gatorade was distributed to 37 states including Texas, California, Florida, New York, Oklahoma, Louisiana and dozens of others. Shoppers across the DFW area who recently purchased 28-ounce Gatorade bottles in these flavors are encouraged to verify their products against the recall information.
Consumers who have one of the recalled products should stop drinking it and contact the retailer where it was purchased or PepsiCo directly for guidance on returns or refunds. The FDA enforcement report with the complete list of lot numbers and affected states is available on the agency’s official website.