Walker’s Wine Juice LLC is recalling their pumpkin juice due to the potential presence of botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says.
Why It Matters
Numerous recalls have been initiated this year due to potentially damaged products, foodborne illness, undeclared food allergens, or the potential of bacteria.
Millions of Americans experience food sensitivities or food allergies every year. According to the FDA, the nine “major” food allergens in the United States are eggs, milk, fish, wheat, soybeans, Crustacean shellfish, sesame, tree nuts and peanuts.
What To Know
According to the FDA alert on Tuesday, Walker’s Wine Juice LLC distributed the juice in their New York store and to wineries in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and New York.
Walker’s Wine Juice LLC told Newsweek that no illnesses related to the recall were reported as of Tuesday.
All lot numbers of the 2.5-gallon box and 5-gallon hot pack labeled “pumpkin” are under recall, according to the FDA. Bulk container sizes 30, 60, and 275-gallon tagged “pumpkin” with all lot numbers are also under recall.
People experiencing adverse reactions after consuming the juice or wine made from the juice “should seek immediate medical attention,” the FDA said.
What People Are Saying
The FDA’s alert about the pumpkin juice recall: “The potential contamination was discovered after an inspection by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors found that the pumpkin juice pH was too high to be processed per Walker’s ‘hot fill’ schedule process. As a result, it was determined that no adequate kill step was used to address the possibility of microbiological hazards.”
Walker’s Wine Juice LLC, on its website: “Notice of Recall: Due to a higher than acceptable pH at packaging, if you have purchased Pumpkin Juice in a 5 gallon or 2.6 gallon Hot-pack, sealed container, please contact our office at 716-679-1292 with your name and contact information. Leave the product alone, and we will get in contact with additional details and next steps.”
Walker’s Wine Juice LLC Plant Manager Matthew Walker told Newsweek: “We started contacting every commercial customer so they could remove the recalled wine they made with the juice from their sales, and we’ve had a couple customers call us back with additional information. Every customer but one was called before the press release went out.”
What Happens Next
Customers who have purchased the recalled product are urged to call Walker’s Wine Juice at (716)-679-1292 x 1016 to discuss proper disposal of the juice and reimbursement.