Are you a fan of this refreshing drink? Immediate recall issued due to cancer-linked chemical!
- Replies 0
Attention, lemonade lovers! Before you take another sip of that refreshing citrus beverage, you might want to check the label.
An urgent recall has been issued for a popular lemonade brand that's been stocked on shelves across the United States.
The reason? A chemical linked to cancer has been found lurking in the drink.
Texas-based Oak Cliff Beverage Works (OCBW) has voluntarily recalled over 16,000 units of its Beverage Base Lemonade.
The culprit? An undeclared presence of Yellow 5, also known as tartrazine. This synthetic dye is commonly used in various food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products and is derived from petroleum.
Alarmingly, it's been found to contain carcinogens such as benzidine.The specific products in question are “Beverage Base Lemonade, 3 gallon,” with a best-by date of December 12, 2025, and “Beverage Base Lemonade, 5 gallon,” dated January 12, 2026.
If you have any of these in your pantry, it's time to take action. It was recalled in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified this recall as a Class II risk level. This designation indicates a health hazard situation where there's a remote probability of adverse health consequences from using the product.
While the FDA considers Yellow 5 safe at standard levels, the chemical has sparked concerns about potential health risks, including hyperactivity in children, allergic reactions, and possible DNA damage.
The recall was initiated on January 31, covering a total of 8,847 cans of each product. However, as of now, OCBW has not made a formal announcement regarding the recall.
While Yellow 5 is permitted in products, the FDA mandates that its presence be disclosed to consumers in the ingredient list. This chemical is a known allergen, capable of triggering reactions such as hives, eczema, and asthma.
Research has suggested that it may contribute to hyperactivity in some children, particularly those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
You can find Yellow 5 in a variety of consumer goods, including cereal, soda, gelatins, juices, vitamins, and toothpaste. However, it's worth noting that Yellow 5 is among the many cancer-linked chemicals banned in Europe.
Despite this, many companies in the US continue to use food dyes. A similar recall in June 2024 involved four soda products that failed to declare the additive.
The drinks, produced by Charles Boggini Company, included Pink Lemonade, Yellow Lemonade, Yellow Lemonade X, and a flavoring product called Cola Flavoring Base.
The pink and yellow lemonades were recalled because the company did not disclose that they contained food dyes Red 40 and Yellow 5, respectively.
In a groundbreaking move, California announced the first law in the US to ban six harmful dyes from food, set to potentially take effect in December 2027. The banned additives include Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3.
House Democrat Jesse Gabriel, who spearheaded California's first-in-nation ban on other food additives earlier this year, emphasized the state's responsibility to protect children from chemicals that can interfere with their ability to learn.
The bill, AB2316, co-sponsored by watchdogs Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Consumer Reports, aims to empower schools to protect the health and well-being of students and encourage manufacturers to cease using these harmful additives.
Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, stated that dangerous dyes that increase the risk for hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral issues should not be allowed in food sold in schools.
Banning these harmful dyes from school foods will protect the health and well-being of kids in California.
If you have any of the recalled lemonade products, stop using them immediately.
You can typically return the product to the place of purchase for a refund or dispose of it following the instructions provided by the recall notice.
Also read: Do you own this Coca-Cola product? Be careful—it's been recalled due to a major labelling mistake!
Have you been affected by this recall? Do you have concerns about food additives and their potential health risks? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
An urgent recall has been issued for a popular lemonade brand that's been stocked on shelves across the United States.
The reason? A chemical linked to cancer has been found lurking in the drink.
Texas-based Oak Cliff Beverage Works (OCBW) has voluntarily recalled over 16,000 units of its Beverage Base Lemonade.
The culprit? An undeclared presence of Yellow 5, also known as tartrazine. This synthetic dye is commonly used in various food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products and is derived from petroleum.
Alarmingly, it's been found to contain carcinogens such as benzidine.The specific products in question are “Beverage Base Lemonade, 3 gallon,” with a best-by date of December 12, 2025, and “Beverage Base Lemonade, 5 gallon,” dated January 12, 2026.
If you have any of these in your pantry, it's time to take action. It was recalled in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
An urgent recall has been issued for a lemonade brand by Oak Cliff Beverage Works due to the undeclared presence of Yellow 5, a food additive linked to cancer. Image source: Francesca Hotchin / Unsplash.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified this recall as a Class II risk level. This designation indicates a health hazard situation where there's a remote probability of adverse health consequences from using the product.
While the FDA considers Yellow 5 safe at standard levels, the chemical has sparked concerns about potential health risks, including hyperactivity in children, allergic reactions, and possible DNA damage.
The recall was initiated on January 31, covering a total of 8,847 cans of each product. However, as of now, OCBW has not made a formal announcement regarding the recall.
While Yellow 5 is permitted in products, the FDA mandates that its presence be disclosed to consumers in the ingredient list. This chemical is a known allergen, capable of triggering reactions such as hives, eczema, and asthma.
Research has suggested that it may contribute to hyperactivity in some children, particularly those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
You can find Yellow 5 in a variety of consumer goods, including cereal, soda, gelatins, juices, vitamins, and toothpaste. However, it's worth noting that Yellow 5 is among the many cancer-linked chemicals banned in Europe.
Despite this, many companies in the US continue to use food dyes. A similar recall in June 2024 involved four soda products that failed to declare the additive.
The drinks, produced by Charles Boggini Company, included Pink Lemonade, Yellow Lemonade, Yellow Lemonade X, and a flavoring product called Cola Flavoring Base.
The pink and yellow lemonades were recalled because the company did not disclose that they contained food dyes Red 40 and Yellow 5, respectively.
In a groundbreaking move, California announced the first law in the US to ban six harmful dyes from food, set to potentially take effect in December 2027. The banned additives include Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3.
House Democrat Jesse Gabriel, who spearheaded California's first-in-nation ban on other food additives earlier this year, emphasized the state's responsibility to protect children from chemicals that can interfere with their ability to learn.
The bill, AB2316, co-sponsored by watchdogs Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Consumer Reports, aims to empower schools to protect the health and well-being of students and encourage manufacturers to cease using these harmful additives.
Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, stated that dangerous dyes that increase the risk for hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral issues should not be allowed in food sold in schools.
Banning these harmful dyes from school foods will protect the health and well-being of kids in California.
If you have any of the recalled lemonade products, stop using them immediately.
You can typically return the product to the place of purchase for a refund or dispose of it following the instructions provided by the recall notice.
Also read: Do you own this Coca-Cola product? Be careful—it's been recalled due to a major labelling mistake!
Have you been affected by this recall? Do you have concerns about food additives and their potential health risks? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
