The US Food and Drug Administration has recalled more than 150,000 bottles of water due to the presence of coliforms. According to the FDS, the recall was initiated early in September affecting bottled water produced by Berkeley Club Beverages, Inc, in the one and five bottles.

In all, 151,397.75 bottles of water are affected by the recall. The bottles were distributed in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia and have the codes 090326, 090426, 090526, 090626.

According to the FDA, the recall has been given a class III designation, meaning it falls in a situation where “use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”

This is considered the least serious classification of FDA recalls.

Coliforms, or coliform bacteria, are organisms that are found in soil, water that has been influenced by surface water, and in human or animal waste. Considered an indicator bacterium – meaning its presence suggests that other bacteria that can make you sick, coliforms are mostly present in the water.

Doctors say that even though most of the coliform bacteria do not cause disease, there are a few rare strains of Escherichia coli – a type of coliform bacteria that leads to serious illness. This includes the strain 0157:H7, found in cattle, chickens, pigs, and sheep. However, according to experts, it is rare for E. coli 0157:H7 to contaminate drinking water.

E. coli usually leads to severe gastrointestinal symptoms, which include a bloody and watery diarrhoea, severe stomach cramps, vomiting, or a low fever. However, some forms of E. coli also trigger a serious health condition known as hemolytic uremic syndrome - which leads to kidney failure, permanent health problems, and even death.

The FDA did not state whether E. coli was detected in the recalled bottled water.

These are not the only water products that have been recalled this year. In March, 70,000 cases of Fiji Natural Artesian Water bottles were voluntarily recalled due to high levels of manganese. That recall was also given a Class III risk definition by the FDA.

In April, 1-litre bottles of Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water Naturally Alkaline Electrolytes Deep Well Water were voluntarily withdrawn after consumers complained of floating particles.

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