Canada-based Niagara Bottling LLC has recalled its line of spring water produced at its Allentown and Hamburg plants in Pennsylvania due to the possible presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) contamination. The water was produced between June 10 and June 18. The presence of E. coli suggests the water may be contaminated with human or animal waste.
According to a statement issued by the company, Niagara Bottling's spring water source did not notify them in a timely manner of the pathogen, resulting in the delayed recall. Niagara Bottling says that have “discontinued use” of that water source. Upon learning of the issue, the company stopped production, disinfected bottling lines and issued the recall. Continued testing has not revealed any additional contaminants issues.
Niagara Bottling is sold under a number of generic brand and retail names--Acadia, Acme, Big Y, Best Yet, 7-Eleven, Niagara, Nature’s Place, Pricerite, Superchill, Morning Fresh, Shaws, ShopRite, Western Beef Blue, and Wegmans.
Bottled water that is part of the recall will display the location, date and time the product was produced, along with a code that begins with “F” or “A”. The company's website can assist consumers with dicphering these codes to determine if their water is part of the recall.
Niagara Bottling says that the company currently has no evidence of consumer illness caused by their water products. They suggest boiling the recalled water for one minute and cooling prior to use because this “kills bacteria and other organisms in the water". The water can also be returned for a full refund.