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A concerning recall has been issued for High Noon vodka-spiked seltzers that were mistakenly labeled as Celsius energy drinks, creating a potentially dangerous situation for unsuspecting consumers, including those in Danbury, Connecticut. The affected products were distributed to eight states between July 21-23, with authorities warning that individuals who thought they were purchasing caffeine-containing energy drinks may instead consume alcoholic beverages without their knowledge. This labeling error presents serious health and safety concerns, particularly for those who avoid alcohol for personal, religious, or medical reasons.

The recall includes Beach Variety 12-packs containing cans that were incorrectly labeled as Celsius’ Astro Vibe Sparkling Blue Razz flavor energy drinks. According to the Food and Drug Administration, this mix-up affects products shipped to Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin during the specified timeframe. Consumers are urged to verify their purchases and contact High Noon immediately if they possess potentially affected products.

The packaging error occurred through a shared supplier that mistakenly shipped empty Celsius cans to High Noon’s production facility. The vodka-spiked seltzers were then filled and distributed in these mislabeled containers, creating a situation where alcoholic beverages appear identical to non-alcoholic energy drinks. High Noon has established a dedicated consumer response channel, with affected customers instructed to email consumerrelations@highnoonvodka.com for information about the recall process and refund procedures.

For consumers concerned about their purchases, the FDA has published specific information regarding lot numbers and UPCs on its website. The company is working with retailers to remove all potentially mislabeled products from store shelves. High Noon’s parent company, E. & J. Gallo Winery, has emphasized its commitment to consumer safety and has implemented additional quality control measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The health implications of this recall extend far beyond confusion for consumers. Unknowingly consuming alcohol disguised as an energy drink poses significant health risks to various vulnerable populations. For individuals with certain medical conditions or those taking medications that interact negatively with alcohol, the consequences could be severe. People with liver conditions, diabetes, or those on prescription medications such as antibiotics, antidepressants, or blood thinners may experience dangerous interactions when alcohol is unexpectedly introduced into their system.

The mislabeling creates particularly serious concerns for recovering alcoholics, pregnant women, and individuals who abstain from alcohol due to religious or personal beliefs. For someone in recovery, unwittingly consuming alcohol could trigger a relapse, while pregnant women face risks of potential harm to fetal development. Additionally, consumers who might operate vehicles or heavy machinery after consuming what they believe to be a non-alcoholic energy drink could unknowingly become impaired, creating significant public safety hazards and potential legal consequences.

Dr. Elizabeth Watkins, a food safety regulatory expert with the Consumer Health Institute, describes this incident as “an alarming breakdown in quality control processes that highlights vulnerabilities in our beverage packaging systems.” She notes that while packaging mix-ups occasionally occur in the food and beverage industry, the substitution of an alcoholic product for a non-alcoholic one represents a particularly concerning category of error. “The regulatory framework requires clear labeling of alcoholic content precisely because of these potential health and safety implications,” Dr. Watkins explains.

This isn’t the first incident of its kind. In 2019, a similar recall occurred when alcoholic seltzers were mistakenly packaged in non-alcoholic sparkling water containers, affecting products across three states. That incident resulted in strengthened industry guidelines for alcohol producers sharing packaging facilities with non-alcoholic beverage companies. Consumers concerned about potentially affected products should look for Beach Variety 12-packs with UPC code 8-52252-00799-4 and lot codes L0522023 and L0522024, which were specifically identified in the recall notice. The mislabeled cans may appear identical to Celsius energy drinks in the distinctive blue Astro Vibe packaging.