More than 122,000 cases of Gatorade sold across 37 states are being recalled after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the drinks contain undeclared food coloring that could pose a risk to sensitive consumers. The FDA classified the recall as Class II on October 2, its second-highest risk level.
PepsiCo, which makes Gatorade, voluntarily initiated the recall on September 25. According to the FDA's enforcement report, the action covers 122,021 cases of 28-ounce bottles of Gatorade Lemon Lime, Gatorade Lemon Lime Zero, Gatorade Orange, and Gatorade Orange Zero. The products contain Yellow No. 5 and/or Yellow No. 6, food dyes that were not declared on the labels.
All recalled bottles are 28 ounces. Affected lot codes include Lot 072226 DT (expires April 18, 2027), Lot 082126 OA (April 18, 2027), Lot 072426 TL (April 20, 2027), Lot 072726 TL (April 23, 2027), Lot 072926 TL and Lot 073026 TL (April 25, 2027), Lot 073126 TL (April 27, 2027), Lot 080126 DL (April 28, 2027), Lot 081026 TL (May 7, 2027), Lot 082026 DL (May 17, 2027), Lot 082526 KM (May 22, 2027), Lot 090426 KM (June 1, 2027), Lot 091026 DL and Lot 083126 DT (June 7, 2027), and Lot 091126 DL (June 8, 2027).
The recalled Gatorade was distributed in 37 states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. Rough estimates put the total at roughly 2.9 to 3.4 million individual bottles.
Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) and Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) are permitted in beverages under U.S. food law. The violation is that they were not listed on the packaging, denying consumers the information needed to avoid them.
According to the FDA, reactions to Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 can include mild rash, itching, hives, or allergic-type asthma. Such reactions are uncommon in the general population but more likely among people who are sensitive to aspirin or have certain dye allergies. Health officials stress that overall risk to the general public remains low.
The FDA uses three recall classes. Class III covers violations unlikely to cause health consequences. Class II — the designation applied here — covers situations where exposure "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences" while the probability of serious adverse health consequences is considered remote. Class I is reserved for products that could cause serious injury or death.
If you recently bought 28-ounce bottles of Gatorade Lemon Lime, Lemon Lime Zero, Orange, or Orange Zero, check the lot code and expiration date on the bottle against the FDA's enforcement report. Do not consume bottles covered by the recall. Consumers can contact the retailer or PepsiCo customer service about refunds or returns.
As of Monday, the FDA had not issued a separate press release for the action, and the recall remains ongoing. No specific injury reports tied to these lots have been disclosed. Retailers across the 37 affected states are pulling the identified lots from shelves while the agency monitors the removal effort.