Late last week, Youngstown Grape Distributors Inc. issued a voluntary recall of two lots of their Happy Moose Juice, citing a production error and an increased risk of bacterial contamination. The recall was initiated on October 4th, and the FDA shared the company’s announcement on Monday.
The recall applies to one lot, or 1,701 bottles, of Happy Moose Tropical Roots Juice and one lot, or 1,017 bottles, of Happy Moose Strawberry Fields. The lot numbers for the impacted products are H240903-E and H240903-H. The UPC numbers for the affected juices are 860012096503 and 866175000388. Both lots have a “Best By” date of 12/02/2024.
Both the Happy Moose Tropical Roots Juice and the Happy Moose Strawberry Fields Juice are sold in 12-ounce plastic bottles. The Tropical Roots Juice has a white and orange label, while the label on the Strawberry Fields Juice is red and white. The expiration date is printed beneath the front label. The UPC number can be found with the bar code on the back of the bottle.
While Youngstown Grape Distributors Inc. has not received any reports of illness in connection to the recall, the company did receive complaints regarding juices that had spoiled before their “Best By” dates. The company then determined that the affected lots of juice did not undergo the customary High Pressure Processing (HPP) treatment. The HPP treatment extends the shelf-life of the juice and eliminates harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and diarrheagenic E. coli.
According to the FDA, while anyone can get sick from consuming contaminated food and beverages, such exposure is particularly risky for the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. Youngstown Grape Distributors Inc. urges consumers to avoid exposure and to return the recalled juices to the point-of-purchase for a full refund.
Anyone with questions about the recall can contact Youngstown Grape Distributors Inc. at from 8 am to 4:30 pm PST at 559-797-0252.
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