Though the cleaning agent is commonly found in food production spaces, authorities say it ended up in the product itself.
As children excitedly count down the remaining school days between now and the holiday break, a new recall in one major state serves as an important reminder that food safety concerns can happen anywhere—and some students may have recently encountered a tainted beverage option.
Originally announced by the the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 5, Hollandia Dairy, Inc., based in San Marcos, California, has recalled 22,700 units of its 100% Appleberry Juice. The product was found to be contaminated with a cleaning solution called peracetic acid, per the FDA enforcement report.
The FDA states that the affected juice was distributed to “various schools,” with locations that seem to be based in California: San Bernardino, Highland, Romoland, Menifee, Winchester, Hemet, and Fontana. This means children may be the largest population of concern regarding this particular recall.
“Camp Pendleton” is also included on the distribution list, seemingly referring to a major base of the United States Marine Corps, located in San Diego County, California.
The recalled product was packaged in half-pint (236 mL) cartons bearing the Universal Product Code (UPC) 0 27495 03679 6 and code information of “Nov 28.”
Peracetic acid is commonly used in food processing environments as a sanitizer, as well as in “animal housing, hospitals and healthcare, agriculture, water purification, wastewater and sewage treatment, textile bleaching, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, laundry, cosmetics, and the chemical industry,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.
While peracetic acid is generally considered safe in these settings, ingestion can irritate the mouth, throat, and stomach. The health authority notes that it is especially “corrosive to the skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract.”
On December 12, the FDA labeled the recall a Class II incident, meaning that use of the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences, but that the probability of serious harm is considered remote.
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
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