Published Oct. 6, 2026. PepsiCo has recalled 122,021 cases of selected 28-ounce Gatorade bottles sold in 37 states because the labels did not declare Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6 or both color additives.
The company initiated the recall Sept. 25, and the Food and Drug Administration classified it as a Class II recall on Oct. 2. A Class II designation means exposure may cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, or that the probability of serious harm is remote.
Four Gatorade varieties are involved
- Gatorade Lemon Lime, 28-ounce bottles
- Gatorade Lemon Lime Zero, 28-ounce bottles
- Gatorade Orange, 28-ounce bottles
- Gatorade Orange Zero, 28-ounce bottles
The recall applies only to listed production lots and date codes, not every bottle in those flavors. The Washington Post reported on Oct. 5 that affected lot labels carry dates ranging from April through June 2027.
Why undeclared dyes matter
Federal rules require certified color additives to be declared on food labels. Yellow No. 5 can cause uncommon allergic-type reactions such as itching or hives in sensitive people, according to FDA information cited in reports about the enforcement action.
The Class II classification does not mean that serious injury is expected. It describes the agency’s assessment that any health consequences are more likely to be temporary or medically reversible and that serious consequences are considered remote.
What consumers should do
Consumers with one of the four 28-ounce products should compare the bottle’s lot and date information with the latest FDA enforcement report database or ask the retailer or PepsiCo whether the package is included.
Anyone who experiences hives, itching, swelling, trouble breathing or another possible reaction after drinking a product should stop using it and seek appropriate medical help. Trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat can be an emergency.
The available federal notice describes an undeclared-ingredient labeling problem. It is not a finding that all Gatorade products are unsafe, and it does not apply to sizes or flavors outside the identified recall.
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Featured image: Photo by Nigel Msipa on Unsplash. Image is illustrative and does not show a recalled product.