There are so many food recalls these days that sometimes keeping them all straight can be a challenge. This particular one involves something sitting in refrigerators and store coolers all over the place.
Gatorade.
PepsiCo has voluntarily recalled 122,021 cases of Gatorade distributed in 37 states, including Illinois. And if you live anywhere around Northern Illinois, there’s another interesting local connection: all five states bordering Illinois (Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and Missouri) are also included in the recall.
The recall involves 28-ounce bottles of four varieties: Gatorade Lemon Lime, Gatorade Lemon Lime Zero, Gatorade Orange and Gatorade Orange Zero. The problem isn’t contamination or spoiled ingredients.
Instead, the drinks contain Yellow No. 5 and/or Yellow No. 6, but those food colorings were not declared on the labels.
Brandon Bell, Getty ImagesBrandon Bell, Getty ImagesThe Recall Is All About Food-Sensitivities And Allergic Reactions
That’s important because some people can have sensitivities or allergic-type reactions to those dyes. Yellow No. 5, in particular, is required to be identified on food labels because it can cause reactions in certain susceptible people. The FDA has classified this as a Class II recall, meaning the potential health consequences are considered temporary or medically reversible, with serious consequences considered unlikely.
So, what should you do if you’ve got Gatorade in the refrigerator or pantry?
Check the bottle against the recall information, particularly the lot number and date information. The affected products have dates extending into April, May and June 2027. If you find a bottle that matches the recalled lots, don’t drink it.
The recall was initiated by PepsiCo on September 25th and was classified by the FDA on October 2nd. It remains ongoing.
And while nobody wants to add one more item to their mental list of things to check in the kitchen, this is a good reminder that when a recall involves a product as popular as Gatorade, it can reach a lot of refrigerators, and Illinois is definitely part of this one.
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