Health.com More than 150,000 bottles of water have been recalled due to the presence of coliforms, according to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notice.
The recall, initiated on Sept. 12 and classified by the FDA on Nov. 8, affects bottled water produced by Berkeley Club Beverages, Inc—specifically Berkeley Springs Water Purified and Berkeley Springs Water Distilled in 1- and 5-gallon bottles.
The recall has been given a class III designation, which means this is a situation where “use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.” This is considered the least serious classification of FDA recalls.
Coliforms, or coliform bacteria, are organisms that are found in soil, water that has been influenced by surface water, and in human or animal waste. Coliform is considered an “indicator bacteria,” which means its presence suggests that other bacteria that can make you sick are present in the water.
Most coliform bacteria does not cause disease, but some rare strains of E.coli—which is a type of coliform bacteria—can cause serious illness.
That includes the strain 0157:H7, which has been found in cattle, chickens, pigs, and sheep. It’s rare for E. coli 0157:H7 to contaminate drinking water, though.
E.coli typically causes gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea that’s bloody or watery, stomach cramps that can be severe, vomiting, or a low fever. However, some forms of E.coli can trigger a serious health condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure, permanent health problems, and even death.
In all, 151,397.75 bottles of water are affected by the recall. The bottles were distributed in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia and have the following codes:
- 090326
- 090426
- 090526
- 090626
