PepsiCo recalls Tropicana OJ after ‘microbiological contamination’ dispatch error

By Mark Astley

- Last updated on GMT

PepsiCo recalls Tropicana OJ after ‘microbiological contamination’ dispatch error

Related tags Recall election Food standards agency

PepsiCo UK has initiated a recall of Tropicana Kids Orange Juice Drinks over fears the cartons contain potentially hazardous water rather than the typical orange juice blend.

Nearly 300 units of Tropicana Kids Orange Juice Drinks 4x200ml multi-packs have been recalled by the firm after it emerged that water in the packs was of an “unsatisfactory quality due to microbiological contamination.”

The recall notification, which was posted on the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) websites, added that the affected products should be easy to identify as they contain no batch or date codes and there is no branding on the individual cartons.

The recall comes less than a week after Chinese authorities brought production at a Coca-Cola bottling plant to a halt over production line “problems.”

Dispatch error

In a statement sent to FoodQualityNews.com, a PepsiCo spokesperson attributed the error to the accidental dispatch of samples from a production test procedure using water that was not up the firm’s usual standards.

“We are recalling a very small number of Tropicana Kids Orange multi-packs. This is because an error at our contract-packing facility meant a small number of trial cartons filled with water rather than our normal water and juice blend, were dispatched in error,”​ said the PepsiCo spokesperson.

“The product does not meet the standard we expect and so we are recalling these 277 affected Tropicana Kids Orange 4-packs.”

“We know the stores to which the affected product was delivered and we have been working closely with these to inform customers.”

“No other Tropicana products are affected, including the Tropicana Kids Apple multi-pack.”

Coca-Cola “problems”

Earlier this year, the Shanxi Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision issued a cease and assist order to Coca-Cola Shanxi Beverages, which brought production lines at the facility to a standstill.

The Chinese authority cited production line “problems”​ for the action.

Coca-Cola Shanxi Beverages has since implemented corrective measures and issued a statement guaranteeing the safety of products from its plant.

The sanction follows an investigation at the facility after an anonymous worker tipped-off local media that nine batches of beverage products manufactured at the plant had become contaminated with chlorine during routine maintenance work.

The Shanxi Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision was forced to confirm the safety of products from the plant as a result.

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