The FDA Initiated a Class III Recall on More Than 150,000 Bottles of Water

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recalling 151,397.75 bottles of water due to bacterial contamination. 

According to the FDA’s notice, the water was bottled by Berkeley Club Beverages, Inc., out of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. The bottles come in formats of 1 and 5 gallons and are labeled “Berkeley Springs Water Purified” and “Berkeley Springs Water Distilled.” They have the below codes:

The recall, which was originally initiated on September 12, was reclassified by the FDA in November as a Class III recall — which actually isn’t as severe as it sounds. As the FDA explained on its website, a Class III is “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.” 

Still, you may not want to take your chances. According to the recall notice, the product tested positive for “coliforms,” which could include a particularly gross set of bacteria. As a chapter from the 2019 book, “Water Quality Monitoring and Management, 2019,” explains, “Coliform bacteria often are considered indicators of fecal contamination and, thus, pathogenic enteric bacteria.”

It noted that though coliform bacteria are often found “associated with enteric pathogens” (the bacteria that exist in the intestines of animals and humans), several coliform bacteria, including Erwinia and Enterobacter, are “often part of the natural flora of many vegetables and usually do not indicate a potential public health problem.” But, since the FDA recalled the product, it could be that this set of coliforms is indeed fecal coliforms, which “often indicates the presence of Escherichia coli in water. The presence of this organism may be an indicator of fecal contamination and be related to the use of polluted irrigation water, the presence of feces, or poor sanitation and hygiene.” 

Also, there could be E. Coli in the water — though, again, the FDA did not specifically state which type of coliform was found in the water — which usually presents as diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, or a low fever in those who have been infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), however, has a slightly less scary stance on coliforms. It noted, “Total coliforms are a group of related bacteria that are (with few exceptions) not harmful to humans. A variety of bacteria, parasites, and viruses, known as pathogens, can potentially cause health problems if humans ingest them. The EPA considers total coliforms a useful indicator of other pathogens for drinking water. Total coliforms are used to determine the adequacy of water treatment and the integrity of the distribution system.” 

The FDA notice does not specifically state what to do if you’ve purchased the product, but it’s best to err on the side of caution.