A major recall has been issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that parents may be interested in, especially those with babies. The recent recall was issued earlier this week on Monday, and affects gallons of “Kroger’s Comforts For Baby purified water with added fluoride...with a sell-by date between 4/26/2018 and 10/10/2018.” Why was the recall issued, though? Well, it turns out the affected gallons of water are contaminated with a certain “type of mold that could cause serious allergic reactions.”The mold in question is known as talaromyces penicillium. It's particularly dangerous because, unlike other types of mold, it's “not visible to the naked eye,” making its presence difficult to detect. But what are the risks associated with the mold? What kind of allergic reactions are people prone to when exposed to the mold? According to the FDA, “allergic reactions to the mold or mold spores are generally hayfever-like.” It added that symptoms typically include “sneezing, red eyes, skin rashes, and throat irritation.”

Kroger Logo; Image Courtesy of Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kroger

Unfortunately, people who are both allergic to the mold and asthmatic might face added risks and symptoms when exposed, such as asthma attacks. Additionally, the FDA warns that “infants with HIV or other immune system deficiencies could become infected, leading to serious health consequences.”In response to the recall announcement, Kroger removed the affected gallons of water from store shelves, though “disputed the severity of the problem.” In a recent statement a company spokesperson said:“While no health risk is associated with this product, out of an abundance of caution, we removed this product from sale several weeks ago. Customers who see discoloration in the product are welcome to return it to our stores for a refund.”

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FDA Issues Recall for Moldy Kroger Baby Water Bottles That Could Cause Asthma AttacksKroger recalls purified water for babies after mold discovered