Before you take a refreshing sip of a classic beverage, here’s why thousands of bottles were pulled from store shelves.
In many ways, green tea seems like a superpowered drink—a 2025 Harvard study even showed the beverage may help preserve your brain health, all thanks to its antioxidant content. However, prepackaged bottled versions of some teas do contain sugar, according to previous research, and a recent high-profile recall highlights why nearly 70,000 bottles of a popular green tea product were affected by a labeling mixup that may have impacted consumers with certain underlying health conditions.
In an update posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 4, PepsiCo Inc., headquartered in Purchase, New York, provided new recall details involving thousands of cases of Lipton Green Tea Citrus beverage after discovering that the product inside the bottles does not match the labeling on the primary packaging. The recall, originally initiated on September 17, 2025, involves 2,854 cases of 16.9-ounce PET [polyethylene terephthalate] bottles sold in two 12-pack units.
According to the recall notice, the outer case label correctly identifies the product as “Lipton Green Tea Citrus (25g sugar)”, but the individual bottles are mislabeled as “Lipton Diet Green Tea Mixed Berry (0g sugar).” This discrepancy results in undeclared sugar in the finished product—a significant issue for consumers who rely on accurate nutritional information, particularly individuals managing diabetes or adhering to low-sugar diets.
The affected tea bottles were distributed in 10 states: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. The outer wrap of the cases and the individual bottles are marked with the code “DEC 01 25 HHMM DW 08035.” A prior notice posted by the Pepsi Lipton Tea Partnership indicates the DEC 01 25 code was the “Best By” date.
In early October, the FDA classified the event as a Class II incident, indicating that exposure to the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences but is unlikely to result in serious harm. Still, the mislabeling raises important reminders about quality control in beverage manufacturing—especially for the biggest brands. As the Lipton site states, it’s the top tea brand worldwide.
According to the December 4 FDA enforcement report, the recall is now completed, suggesting that retailers and distributors have removed the affected inventory from shelves. However, with a recent “Best By” date, it’s worth checking to see if there are any bottles still in your home.
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