East West Tea Company, LLC voluntarily recalled over 877,000 bags of their Organic Yogi Echinacea Immune Support tea due to the detection of pesticide residues exceeding the action levels, making the products unsafe for consumption. The recall began on March 12, in collaboration with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and the investigation is still ongoing.
The recalled teas are packaged in boxes, each containing four packs of 16 tea bags. They are identified with the UPC: 0 76950 45010 3. The CASE GTIN numbers for these products are 60076950450105 and 20076950450107.
The following lot numbers are included in the recall: #0000184330, #0000184853, #0000185098, #0000185100, #0000185383, #0000185385, #0000185387, #0000185389, #0000185434, #0000185436, #0000185828, #0000185830, #0000185832, #0000186519, #0000186521, #000184062, #0000186900, #0000186902, #0000186904, #0000187357, #0000187359, #0000187400, #0000187402, #0000187769, #0000188028, #0000188030, #0000188045, #0000188114, #0000186600, #0000186910, #0000187155, #0000184691, #0000184963, #0000185381, and #0000185518.
Simply Recipes / Yogi
What Is an Action Level?
Pesticides are commonly used by farmers to protect crops from insects, weeds, fungi, and other threats. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets maximum residue limits for these chemicals to ensure consumer safety. The FDA is responsible for monitoring and testing food products for more than 800 pesticide chemical residues, then publishing the results.
Despite farmers’ best efforts to follow safe agricultural practices, some environmental pesticides are unavoidable. For such instances, the FDA establishes an “action level.” If pesticide residues exceed this level, the product is considered unsafe for consumption and must be recalled.
Neither the FDA nor East West Tea Company has disclosed the specific types or quantities of pesticides found on the recalled tea products.
What To Do If You Have the Recalled Products at Home
If you have purchased the recalled product, please dispose of it or return it to the store where it was purchased for a refund. For further inquiries, contact East West Tea Company at 1-800-964-4832 or through the customer service link on their website.
