Fruit juice being recalled for botulism concerns
New York-based Walker’s Wine Juice LLC is recalling its pumpkin juice because it may be contaminated with botulism.
According to an announcement from the FDA, the juice was distributed via Walker’s Wine Juice retail store in New York. The juice was also distributed directly by Walker’s to a limited number of commercial wineries in Illinois, Indiana, Kanas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
The affected products are:
- 2.5-gallon bag in box and 5-gallon hot pack are labeled “pumpkin”; All lots are subject to the recall.
- 30-, 60-, and 275-gallon bulk containers are tagged “pumpkin”; All lots are subject to the recall.
The potential contamination was discovered after food inspectors with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets found that the pH of the pumpkin juice was too “high to be processed per Walker’s hot fill schedule process.” Officials then determined that the juice did not go through the process used to kill possible microbiological hazards.
As of April 8, no illnesses have been reported.