The U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA recently issued a recall of thousands of water bottles distributed in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia due to contamination by coliform bacteria.
The recall, which involves Berkeley Springs Water Purified and Berkeley Springs Water Distilled in 1- and 5-gallon bottles, affects 151,397.75 bottles marked with the codes 090326, 090426, 090526, and 090626.
Although the recall began in September, it was designated as a Class III recall on November 8, indicating that while the product violates regulations, it is not likely to cause health issues from exposure.
Coliform bacteria, often used as an indicator of water quality, are generally harmless but can signal the presence of other pathogens, as the Environmental Protection Agency EPA highlights.
Berkeley Club Beverages, Inc., voluntarily recalled the affected products, responding to the FDA’s findings.
This incident marks the third bottled water recall in the past year, following recalls of Fiji Natural Artesian Water and Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water for similar contamination issues.