PepsiCo has recalled roughly 122,000 cases of Gatorade after certain bottles were found to contain artificial color additives that were not declared as required, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to classify the action as a Class II recall.
The recall covers certain 28-ounce bottles of Gatorade Lemon Lime, Gatorade Lemon Lime Zero, Gatorade Orange and Gatorade Orange Zero. The affected drinks contain undeclared Yellow No. 5 and/or Yellow No. 6, according to information attributed to the FDA.
That distinction is central to why the products were called back. The issue identified by regulators is not simply that the beverages contain food coloring, but that the presence of those additives was not properly declared for the affected products.
Certain production lots bearing dates in April, May and June 2027 are included in the recall. The affected products were distributed across 37 U.S. states, including California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.
Why undeclared dyes can trigger a recall?
Food color additives are widely used to give products a particular appearance, strengthen existing colors or maintain consistency when food and drinks are exposed to factors such as light, air, moisture and temperature.
Their use, however, is subject to labeling requirements. When a regulated ingredient is present but is not disclosed as required, consumers do not have complete information about what they are buying or consuming.
That can be particularly relevant for people who are sensitive to specific additives. The FDA information cited in the available reporting says reactions associated with the dyes can include a mild rash or allergic-type asthma. Such reactions are described as uncommon in the general population and more frequently observed among people who have allergic reactions to aspirin.
FDA classified the Gatorade action as Class II
PepsiCo initiated the recall on September 25, 2026. The FDA classified it on October 2 as a Class II recall.
Under the FDA definition quoted in the reporting, a Class II recall applies when exposure to a recalled product may cause “temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” or when the likelihood of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
The FDA recall number listed for the action is H-0009-2027. PepsiCo recalls 122,000 cases o…
Which Gatorade products are affected?
The recalled products are limited to specified 28-ounce bottles of:
- Gatorade Lemon Lime
- Gatorade Lemon Lime Zero
- Gatorade Orange
- Gatorade Orange Zero
Not every bottle of those flavors is necessarily affected. The recall is tied to specific lot dates, making the lot information on individual bottles important for consumers checking products already purchased.
The affected cases were distributed in 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.
Consumers with one of the four affected Gatorade varieties should therefore check the bottle size and lot information rather than relying on flavor alone.
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