Over 150,000 Bottles of Water Recalled Due to Bacteria

While many of us have a reusable water bottle or two on hand, it's likely you still reach for a plastic water bottle from time to time. If you happen to have one in your refrigerator, you may want to check the label as thousands of bottles of water have been recalled in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia due to bacteria contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

A total of 151,397 bottles of water were impacted in the recall, which was first initiated in September but was given a Class III designation on November 8. This means that the recall is "a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences," according to the FDA.

Berkeley Springs Water Purified and Berkeley Springs Water Distilled in 1 and 5-gallon bottles are two products specifically included in the recall, the FDA states. The impacted bottles are labeled with the codes 090326, 090426, 090526, and 090626.

The bacteria present in these water bottles are coliforms, which are "a group of related bacteria that are (with few exceptions) not harmful to humans. A variety of bacteria, parasites, and viruses, known as pathogens, can potentially cause health problems if humans ingest them. EPA considers total coliforms a useful indicator of other pathogens for drinking water. Total coliforms are used to determine the adequacy of water treatment and the integrity of the distribution system," according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

While the FDA doesn't state what to do if you have the recalled bottles, it's common practice for companies to suggest to stop drinking the affected products, throw them away, and contact the producer—which would be Berkeley Club Beverages for this recall.