Do Not Drink Metromint Flavored Water- It May be Contaminated

Jenny Albano

Contributor

0 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

The California Department of Health announced Wednesday, December 5, that consumers should not drink Metromint Flavored Water because it may be contaminated with Bacillus cereus, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Soma Beverage Co., LLC., in conjunction with the FDA, is recalling all bottles of Metromint flavored water (Peppermint, Spearmint, Orangemint and Lemonmint) with a "Best Before" date before 12/21/2008 and produced at the company's California plant because they may be contaminated with Bacillus cereus. The "Best Before" date is located on the shoulder of the water bottle.

So far there have been no illness reported in California, but there has been one incident in Illinois that is possibly linked to the contaminated product. The water was available in retail stores across the nation and online. The water bottles were distributed in clear plastic 16.9-ounce bottles with a black M marked on the front and the letters "KSA" located in a rectangle on the back of the bottle in the lower right-hand corner.

Illness caused by Bacillus cereus may be either a vomiting or a diarrheal type. The vomiting type is characterized by nausea and vomiting within 30 minutes to six hours after consumption of contaminated foods. Duration of symptoms is generally less than 24 hours. The diarrheal type usually includes onset of abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea six to 15 hours after consumption of contaminated food. Symptoms may last for 24 to 48 hours.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.