It amounts to 180,000 total cans, pulled from the market just last week with expiration dates throughout 2027.
Before there were bottled water products treated with added electrolytes, there was a more natural source: coconut water.
Sodium and potassium are two of the electrolytes the body needs to absorb hydration effectively, which is one reason coconut water has risen in popularity. Market research in 2024 suggested that 70% of Americans reported seeking beverages with functional benefits, “such as hydration and nutrient content, with coconut water positioned as a low-calorie, natural source of electrolytes and vitamins.” Its subtly sweet flavor, with a slight hint of salt from the sodium, also tends to be a draw—so much that one Southeast Asian-sourced 100% coconut water product is recognizable to many U.S. consumers. The previously cited market data source says this product ranks among the top five coconut water brands in the country.
That particular brand, C2O Coconut Water, promotes its use of fruit from Thailand. But this weekend the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that at some point in the packaging process, a detail was overlooked on product reportedly distributed to 11 states: Arizona, Colorado, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington.
The FDA states the recall occurred because outer cardboard box for the canned coconut water has the incorrect Nutrition Facts Panel and Ingredient List, leaving out “Added Sugar” content. Added sugar is five grams (“5g“) per 17.5-ounce can, which is equivalent to one and a quarter teaspoon.
For a coconut water drinker who needs to strictly watch their sugar intake, such as a person with diabetes, this could pose some risk—though the FDA has designated their lowest risk level to the event, calling it a Class III: “A situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”
Another reason the agency didn’t assign a higher risk level is because reportedly, each single-can unit bears the correct details: “[…T]he primary packaging (the can) has the correct Nutrition Facts Panel and Ingredient List,” the report reads.
The FDA’s weekend recall was first initiated on February 25. It reportedly pertains to 12,000 cases product bearing 15 cans each, with the UPC number 8-50274-00792-8. Affected expiration dates are between April 3, 2027 and June 5, 2027.
The recalling firm is El Paso, TX-based Tipp Distributors, Inc., doing business as (DBA) Novamex.
For more wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
- More Than 650,000 Bottles of Water Recalled as FDA Cites ‘Insanitary Conditions’ at Production Facility
- 7 Worst Foods and Beverages That Dehydrate You, Says a Doctor
- 9 Drinks That Can Help You Lose Water Weight Instantly, from a Cleveland Clinic Expert
- I Drank Lemon Water Every Day for a Week—Here’s What Happened
