The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to drink any juice from a New York-based juice maker whose manufacturing processes do not adequately prevent its products from the growth of Clostridium botulinum. According to FDA, carrot and beet juices from Juices Incorporated (aka Juices International and Juices Enterprises) of Brooklyn, N.Y. have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum due to food safety insufficiencies in production. FDA filed a complaint for permanent injunction against the company in October of 2010 after the company failed to correct continuing sanitation violations at its facility. A judge ordered the permanent injunction in January of 2011, thus blocking the company from manufacturing or selling product until it corrected its sanitation issues. However, Juices Incorporated failed to comply with the consent decree, prompting a Judge for the Eastern Disctrict of New York to issue an Order to Enforce Consent Decree. Now, FDA reports that “FDA investigators recently confirmed that Juices Incorporated and its owners continue to manufacture and distribute juice products and other beverages.” Juices from the company were recently found in New York City area retail establishments and restaurants, reports FDA. While the company’s carrot and beet juices are the ones that pose a particular botulism risk due to the way they have been produced, FDA is also recommending that consumers avoid any products made by Juices Incorporated, including Ginger Beer Drink, Agony Peanut Punch, Front End Lifter Magnum Punch, Irish Sea Moss, Cashew Punch, Sorrel Drink, Pineapple Twist, Soursop Juice, Corn Punch and any other types of juice the company might have distributed. The carrot and beet juices FDA says are known to pose a botulism risk include:
- Carrot Juice Drink
- Carrot & Beet Juice Drink
- Carrot & Ginger Drink
- Double Trouble Carrot Punch
- Ginger Beet Juice
- Beet Juice Drink