FIJI Water Recalled 1.9 Million Bottles of Water After Bacteria and Harmful Mineral Found

Natural Waters of Viti Limited has voluntarily recalled nearly 1.9 million bottles of FIJI Water because testing found manganese and three bacteria that can be dangerous to consumers. The recall was initiated on March 4 and reported by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on May 23.

The recalled products are:

78,533 cases of FIJI Natural Artesian Water
500-milliliter bottles sold in 24-packs
Case UPC: 6 32565 00004 3
Bottle UPC: 6 32565 00001 2
Bottle Dates: Nov. 11, 2023, Nov. 12, 2023, Nov. 13, 2023, Nov. 24, 2023, and Nov. 25, 2023

The bottles were distributed in Washington state and sold online to customers nationwide.

The FDA report says the reason for the recall is “Firm testing revealed Manganese in addition to three bacterial genera.” No other details were provided to the public by the FDA or the company.

What Is Manganese?

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), manganese is a naturally occurring mineral found in the air, soil, and water. Though it is an essential nutrient for humans, overexposure can have risks, like problems with memory, attention, and motor skills.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that adults and children who drink water with high levels of manganese for a long time experience loss of sex drive and sperm damage (in male adults), problems with the nervous system, and undesirable effects on brain development.

What To Do If You Have the Recalled Products at Home

Natural Waters of Viti Limited has not provided a press release or instructions for what to do if you have bottles of the recalled product at home. Do not drink the water. Return it to where you bought the product for a refund.