Product recalls are never something to be taken lightly. Whether it’s faulty packaging, a risk of allergic reaction, or something far worse, when it comes to the health of our pets, friends and family, we can never be too careful.
Earlier this summer, Evergreen Orchard Farm LLC, based in Hamilton, New Jersey, issued a voluntary recall of three fruit juice products over missing pasteurization and sanitation records. Now, the FDA has upgraded the recall to a Class II risk, the agency’s second-highest warning level, raising concern as back-to-school season gets underway.
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Breaking Down the Risk
Per the FDA, a Class II risk is a “situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” In Layman’s terms, it’s serious enough to pull the product off shelves, but it’s not expected to cause life-threatening harm.
That said, lack of pasteurization and sanitation records is a big deal. Pasteurization is a heating process that kills potentially harmful bacteria in foods and drinks, and without records, all those safety measures basically get thrown out the window. The same goes for sanitation—without proof that equipment and facilities were properly cleaned, there’s no way to know if the products were made safely.
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Which Juices Are Affected
What we know right now is that three juice products are named in the recall, each produced by Evergreen Orchard Farm LLC and sold in the Northeast region of the United States. The products and case information can be found as follows:
- Korean Pear Juice — 610 cases, with codes P20261110 and P20261130
- Grape Juice — 78 cases, with the code G20261215
- Jujube Juice — 197 cases, with the codes J20260910 and J20261110
The products named above could still be on store shelves or sitting in pantries and refrigerators at home, so it’s important to check your labels if you have any of these items. They were sold in 4-ounce foil pouches, packaged in cases of 25 and distributed to retail locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. If you do have them, it’s best to return them to the place of purchase for a refund and avoid consuming them entirely.
Furthermore, while the FDA has reported no illnesses linked to the recalled products as of September 3, the recall is still ongoing. Consumers who experience any adverse reactions they believe may be related to these products should contact a healthcare provider before anything else.
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