Trader Joe’s has issued a major recall affecting tens of thousands of Gerolsteiner Sparkling Natural Mineral Water bottles across 12 states due to potential glass bottle defects. Here’s everything you need to know about this massive recall.
Glass Bottle Defect Sparks Major Trader Joe’s Water Recall
On March 12th, Trader Joe’s issued a recall for more than 60,000 bottles of Gerolsteiner Sparkling Natural Mineral Water due to a potential safety risk. The recall follows a notification from the product’s supplier, Germany-based Gerolsteiner, warning that certain lot codes of the glass bottles could be cracked or damaged, posing a laceration hazard.
In a statement, Trader Joe’s explained, “The issue was identified through research related to bottle breakage during production and potentially affects 1 percent of bottles in the lot codes,” which are detailed below.
How to Check If Your Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water Is Part of the Recall
Consumers can check if they have the recalled Gerolsteiner Sparkling Natural Mineral Water by looking for the affected lot codes, printed on the lower part of the white, blue, and red label:
- 2024/28/11 24 2027/19/12
- 2024/271/11 24 2027/18/12
The recalled sparkling water was sold in 750-milliliter glass bottles, available individually or in cases of 15 bottles. It was distributed in 12 states—Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas—between December 27th, 2024, and January 28th, 2025.
Customers who purchased these bottles should stop using them immediately. Trader Joe’s advises careful disposal and offers a full refund at any store location. For further inquiries, contact Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 or via the retailer’s online contact form.
Fortunately, as of now, no customer injuries have been reported in connection with the damaged bottles.
Notable Bottled Water Recalls in Recent Years
In recent years, several bottled water recalls have been issued due to serious safety concerns, ranging from chemical contamination to bacterial risks. Here are some of the most significant cases:
- Peñafiel Mineral Spring Water Recall (2019): Keurig Dr Pepper voluntarily recalled all unflavored Peñafiel Mineral Spring Water after testing detected arsenic levels exceeding the FDA’s allowable limit of 10 parts per billion. Although no immediate injuries were reported, long-term exposure to arsenic is linked to increased risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological issues.
- Real Water Recall (2021): Real Water issued a nationwide recall after its alkalized bottled water was linked to a hepatitis outbreak that caused acute liver failure in multiple consumers. The FDA and CDC launched an investigation following reports of severe non-viral hepatitis, particularly among children, leading to several hospitalizations. The outbreak was traced to Real Water’s Las Vegas-based facility, prompting the company to shut down operations permanently. Numerous lawsuits were filed by affected consumers, underscoring the dangers of inadequately treated bottled water.
- Fiji Water Recall (2024): Nearly 2 million plastic bottles of Fiji Water were recalled after FDA testing detected elevated levels of manganese and potentially harmful bacteria strains. While no illnesses were immediately reported, the contamination posed potential health risks, particularly for individuals with weakened immune systems.
Source: AllRecipes.com