Kroger, the largest U.S. supermarket chain, recently issued a recall for purified water for babies over a mold problem. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the gallon containers of water — Comforts for Baby Purified Water with Fluoride Added — is contaminated with Talaromyces penicillium.
The affected drinks are jugs with sell-by dates between April 26, 2018, and October 10, 2018. They are currently sold at the Food 4 Less, Jay C, Jay C Food Plus, Kroger, Kroger Marketplace, Owen’s, Payless Super Market and Ruler supermarket chains owned by Kroger. They’re primarily located in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
According to the FDA, despite the water’s clear containers the mold may not be visible with the naked eye. Babies with already compromised immune systems that ingest the mold-contaminated water could face serious health consequences. For the general population, breathing in or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions or trigger asthma attacks.
At this point no health risks have been associated with the product, but it is being removed from shelves as a precautionary action.
