Cincinnati, Ohio – Over 54,000 boxes of East West Tea Company tea have been recalled after traces of pesticides were found in one of the company’s organic teas, as reported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA stated that the company’s Organic Yogi Echinacea Immune Support tea was voluntarily recalled due to pesticide residues detected above action levels. Distributed nationwide, the recall began on March 12 and is ongoing. The affected products were sold in boxes of four or six packs, each containing 16 tea bags, totaling nearly 900,000 bags of tea. Boxes with the UPC number 0 76950 45010 3 and more than 30 different lot codes are subject to the recall.
The recall, classified as a Class III recall by the FDA, indicates that the use of the violative product is unlikely to cause adverse health consequences. Although the specific pesticides detected in the tea or their levels were not disclosed by the FDA. The FDA’s pesticide residue monitoring program ensures that chemical residues in foods do not exceed limits and tolerances set by the EPA. The agency monitors over 4,000 food samples annually using various methods to detect pesticide residues.
Pesticides, widely used to control pests such as insects, rodents, and weeds, can be toxic at certain levels, affecting the nervous system and causing skin or eye irritation. Some pesticides are also carcinogens or may impact hormones and the endocrine system. To minimize exposure to pesticides, consumers are advised to choose organic products from reputable brands. While an organic label does not guarantee a food is pesticide-free, it indicates that the food was produced without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
It remains unclear how the pesticides entered the tea bags or how they were identified. Consumers in possession of the recalled teas are advised not to use them. It is unknown if the East West Tea Company will offer refunds or exchanges on the affected products. Requests for comments from a representative of the company have yet to be answered.