Washington Processor Recalls Bottled Beverage Due to Complaints of Off-Flavor

Talking Rain®, a Washington state based company,  is voluntarily recalling lots of its Sparkling Ice® Cherry Limeade beverage in response to a small number of customer complaints.  The issue was off-taste and off-odor in the recalled product. The Company made the decision to recall the product out of an abundance of caution.

These types of issues are often controlled through an on-site sensory analysis to evaluate each batch of product.   This would represent a quality issue, unlikely to impact safety of the product.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm612182.htm
Talking Rain® Voluntarily Recalls Sparkling Ice® Cherry Limeade in Response to Customer Complaints
For Immediate Release
June 28, 2018

Cold Brew Coffee Recalled for Botulism Concerns

A NY company is recalling its canned cold brewed coffee after it was determined that the product may be conducive to the growth of Clostridium botulinum, the causative agent of  botulism.  The product's name, interesting enough, is Death Wish.  Probably appropriate.

In canned beverages such as juices and teas, pH is often used as a control for preventing Clostridium botulinum growth.  For this, the pH is kept below 4.6.  The pH of coffee can vary widely from 4.2 to 5.2 or higher depending upon the type of coffee.  In making a canned product such as this, it would be important to adjust pH to a value below 4.6, if pH is used as a control.  Other controls may be used.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm576809.htm
Death Wish Coffee Co. Announces Recall of Nitro Cold Brew Cans From Retailers, Online Sales
For Immediate Release
September 19, 2017

Beverage Drinks Recalled Due to Potential Bottle Breakage

Trader Joe's is recalling its Triple Ginger Brew product due to  'reports of unopened bottles potentially bursting."   This bottle uses a swing cap closure which is anchored into the glass.  If the product in the bottle becomes contaminated - either before closure or afterwards due to a poor seal (which can be the case if that rubber seal isn't seated properly against the glass during closure), then when that contamination grows, most likely in the form of yeast, the pressure formed due to the gas produced has a more difficult time releasing because of the metal clamp holding the cap down.

Another issue is when someone opens the bottle, takes a swig, and then clamps the lid shut.  They put the bottle on the counter and forget about it.  The problem is that they have introduced yeast into the bottle and those yeast go to town....multiplying and producing gas.  Again, with a clamp anchored into the glass, that pressure has no way to go but boom.

These closures are cool, popularized by Grolsh Brewery as well by home brewers who use this type of bottle with 'swing-cap-closure' because of ease of closing the bottle.  So it is easy to see why a commercial product trying to capture that 'home brewed' look would use this bottle.  But it appears now it may not have been a good choice for a product such as this.  If the cap cannot come off easily do to potential spoilage issues, then it probably shouldn't be used.

 


FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm477562.htm
Trader Joe's Issues Voluntary Recall of Triple Ginger Brew
For Immediate Release
December 15, 2015