Gatorade recall: PepsiCo pulls 122,000 cases over undeclared food dyes
More than 122,000 cases of the sports drink have been recalled across 37 US states after the FDA warned of unlisted Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6.
PepsiCo has recalled more than 122,000 cases of Gatorade across 37 US states because the drinks contain synthetic food colourings that are not listed on the labels.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified the move as a Class II recall on 2 October. The recall covers 122,021 cases of 28-ounce bottles of four popular flavours: Gatorade Lemon Lime, Gatorade Lemon Lime Zero, Gatorade Orange, and Gatorade Orange Zero. According to the FDA's enforcement report, the drinks contain Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, or both.
PepsiCo voluntarily initiated the recall on 25 September, and the operation is still underway. The company has not issued a formal public press release.
Why are Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 a concern?
Both Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) and Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) are artificial food dyes widely used to give food and drinks their bright yellow and orange hues. They are fully approved for use by the FDA, but federal regulations dictate that they must be clearly declared on product packaging so consumers can make informed choices.
The issue is not that the dyes are dangerous for the general public, but that unlabelled ingredients pose a risk to people with specific sensitivities. Yellow No. 5 can trigger allergic-type reactions, including bronchial asthma, in susceptible individuals. This sensitivity is relatively rare but occurs more frequently in people who have an aspirin hypersensitivity. Academic research has also linked both synthetic dyes to hypersensitivity symptoms such as hives.
Under FDA guidelines, a Class II recall is issued when exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, or where the probability of serious health consequences is remote.
Which states and lot numbers are affected?
The recalled drinks were distributed to 37 states. The affected areas cover a vast portion of the country, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Consumers who have purchased Gatorade in these areas should check their bottles. The recall affects several specific lot numbers, which include:
- Lot 091026 DL - JUN 07 27
- Lot 091126 DL - JUN 08 27
- Lot 072226 DT - APR 18 27
- Lot 072426 TL - APR 20 27
- Lot 073126 TL - APR 27 27
- Lot 072926 TL - APR 25 27
- Lot 073026 TL - APR 25 27
- Lot 081026 TL - MAY 07 27
- Lot 082126 OA - APR 18 27
- Lot 080126 DL - APR 28 27
- Lot 082026 DL - MAY 17 27
- Lot 083126 DT - JUN 07 27
- Lot 082526 KM - MAY 22 27
- Lot 090426 KM - JUN 01 27
- Lot 072726 TL - APR 23 27
Anyone with a known sensitivity to synthetic food dyes or a history of allergic reactions should avoid drinking the recalled bottles.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cases of Gatorade recalled | 122,021 | US Food and Drug Administration |
| US states affected | 37 | US Food and Drug Administration |
| Date recall was initiated | 25 September | PepsiCo |
| Date recall was classified by the FDA | 2 October | US Food and Drug Administration |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| PepsiCo | The parent company of Gatorade that voluntarily initiated the recall. |
| US Food and Drug Administration | The federal agency that classified the Gatorade recall as Class II and issued the enforcement report. |
| Gatorade | The brand of sports drink subject to the recall over undeclared food colourings. |
