Topo Chico Mineral Water Recalled Over Possible Bacterial Contamination

Coca-Cola has announced a voluntary recall for certain 16.9-ounce glass bottles of Topo Chico Mineral Water sold at Costco and Sam's Club locations in Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas due to possible contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.
The recall, detailed in a June 2 customer notice, involves 18-packs of Topo Chico sold at select Costco warehouses in Texas and Louisiana between May 20 and May 29. The affected bottles carry lot code 13A2541, printed on the case and bottleneck. Some bottles sold at certain Sam's Club locations with lot codes 11A2543, 12A2543, or 13A2541 are also included.
'Any consumer that purchased a product with the Lot numbers 11A2543, 12A2543, or 13A2541, may return the product to the place of purchase for exchange or refund, or can call Coca-Cola at 1-800-GET-COKE,' a Coca-Cola spokesperson told FOX Business. 'The quality and safety of our products is our top priority.'
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium naturally found in water sources, including mineral water, poses 'potential minor health consequences' for individuals with compromised immune systems, according to Costco's notice. For healthy individuals, health risks are 'considered to be very low.'
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that those most at risk include people in healthcare settings, particularly those using breathing machines, catheters, or with open wounds from burns or surgeries.
The Cleveland Clinic states that Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections can cause issues ranging from urinary tract infections to septicemia, with symptoms including chills, earache, diarrhea, red eyes, difficulty breathing, urinary incontinence, and itchy skin.
Consumers with affected products are advised to return them to Costco or Sam's Club for a refund. For questions, Coca-Cola's customer service line is available at 1-800-438-2653. The company emphasized that the recall is limited and urged consumers to check lot codes to identify affected bottles.

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While they're not always sweet, they still provide carbonation without any sugar or artificial sweeteners. The bottom line If you want to limit added sugars, sodas made with artificial sweeteners — like Diet Coke and Coke Zero — may seem like a good choice. While some of the artificial sweeteners in these two drinks have faced controversy over their potential negative health effects, consuming either beverage in moderation should not be a concern, especially when compared with the negative effects of their sugar-laden alternative. Coke Zero and Diet Coke are essentially the same nutritionally. They differ mostly in their flavor.