Just a heads-up for your health: pesticides have been detected in a well-liked drink sold in Maine.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is supporting a company's voluntary recall to help inform the public. When a company recalls a product, withdraws it from the market, or issues a safety alert, the FDA shares the company's announcement as a public service. This helps ensure that consumers have access to important safety information.

Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
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But first, what does it mean when a product is 'recalled'?

According to the Food and Drug Administration,

Recall is a voluntary action that takes place because manufacturers and distributors carry out their responsibility to protect the public health and well-being from products that present a risk of injury or gross deception or are otherwise defective.

Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
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Essentially, the goal of a voluntary recall, which is what we’re dealing with here, is to remove as many products from the marketplace as possible to minimize danger to the consumer and to minimize the company's exposure to any future lawsuits.

So, which drink sold in Maine is being recalled?

East West Tea Company, LLC, the parent company of Yogi Tea, is recalling their 'Organic Yogi Echinacea Immune Support' tea, specifically the 'Organic Yogi Echinacea Immune Support, Caffeine Herbal Supplement, Serving Size 1 tea bag, 16 tea bags per pack, 4 packs per box.'

Credit: yogiproducts.com
Credit: yogiproducts.com
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Credit: yogiproducts.com
Credit: yogiproducts.com
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With a total of 54,846 packs being pulled from shelves, this amounts to nearly 900,000 tea bags being recalled nationwide. The recall was initiated because pesticide residues were found above acceptable levels.

The notice from East West Tea Company, LLC, reads,

Organic Yogi Echinacea Immune Support product is recalled because pesticide residues were detected above action levels.

However, the FDA classifies this recall as 'Class III,' indicating that drinking the tea is not likely to cause adverse health problems.

The affected lot numbers are:

Lot #0000184330

Lot #0000184853

Lot #0000185098

Lot #0000185100

Lot #0000185383

Lot #0000185385

Lot #0000185387

Lot #0000185389

Lot #0000185434

Lot #0000185436

Lot #0000185828

Lot #0000185830

Lot #0000185832

Lot #0000186519

Lot #0000186521

Lot #000184062

Lot #0000186900

Lot #0000186902

Lot #0000186904

Lot #0000187357

Lot #0000187359

Lot #0000187400

Lot #0000187402

Lot #0000187769

Lot #0000188028

Lot #0000188030

Lot #0000188045

Lot #0000188114

Lot #0000186600

Lot #0000186910

Lot #0000187155

Lot #0000184691

Lot #0000184963

Lot #0000185381

Lot #000018551

For more information, visit the FDA’s website here.

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