ACME Markets and Shop Rite announced that Niagara Bottling is issuing a voluntary recall of certain bottled water products, including Natural Spring Water sold under the ACME brand name, due to concerns that one of Niagara’s spring sources is contaminated with E. coli.
Niagara also announced that 7-11 and Shoprite were also selling water from the company’s Hamburg and Allentown plants in Pennsylvania. A representative for Wakefern Foods, the cooperative that owns Shoprite, did not respond to a request for comment on the recall.
E. coli bacteria were found in the water supply on June 10, 2015. No illnesses have been reported to date. The recall affects multiple retailers in the region and was issued out of an abundance of caution, ACME stated.
People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk if contaminated water is consumed. People with specific health concerns should consult their physician if they have questions.
Presence of E. coli bacteria indicate that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms.
The following bottled water products sold at ACME Markets in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have been recalled. The recalled products have Best By dates of 08DEC2016 through 16DEC2016 (December 8, 2016 through December 16, 2016). Products will have the letter F (for Hamburg) and A for Allentown.
Shoprite, in a statement on its website, said the affected water would contain the following:
- H# BEST BY 08DEC2016 through H# BEST BY 16DEC2016
- A# BEST BY 08DEC2016 through A# BEST BY 16DEC2016
Consumers who purchased these products should discard them or return them for a full refund. These products have been removed from sale, ACME reported. Water can also be boiled, Niagara, stated.
For more information, call Niagara Bottling, LLC Consumer Service, (877) 487-7873.
