Which Tea Has Been Recalled? A Guide to Recent Alerts

November 16, 2025 •

4 min read

In October 2025, PepsiCo recalled thousands of Lipton Green Tea Citrus bottles due to a critical mislabeling error, highlighting the importance of staying informed about product safety alerts. This raises a key question for many consumers: which tea has been recalled, and what should you do with affected products?

Quick Summary

An overview of recent tea recalls, including the major Lipton mislabeling alert and the Yogi Echinacea issue. It details the reasons for recalls, health risks, and proper consumer actions.

Key Points

Lipton Iced Tea Recalled: In October 2025, thousands of Lipton Green Tea Citrus bottles were recalled because they were mislabeled as zero-sugar, posing a risk to those monitoring sugar intake.
Yogi Tea Recalled: East West Tea Company recalled its Yogi Echinacea Immune Support tea bags in May 2024 due to pesticide residues.
Check Labels Carefully: The Lipton recall highlights the need to check both the outer packaging and individual bottle labels, as they can sometimes differ.
Don't Consume Recalled Products: Immediately discard or return any recalled tea, even if it's a low-risk Class III recall, as a precaution.
Severity Varies: Recalls are classified by risk level; Lipton was Class II (reversible health effects), while Yogi was Class III (not likely to cause harm).
Return for Refund: Retailers and manufacturers will typically offer a full refund for recalled products, even without a receipt.

Recent Major Tea Recalls

Understanding the most recent tea recalls is crucial for consumer safety. Several significant alerts have been issued over the past two years, addressing issues ranging from mislabeling to contamination.

Lipton Green Tea Citrus Mislabeling (October 2025)

In a prominent recall, PepsiCo withdrew 2,854 cases of its Lipton Green Tea Citrus from sale across ten U.S. states. The issue was a critical mislabeling error, where individual bottles containing full-sugar Green Tea Citrus were incorrectly labeled as "Lipton Diet Green Tea Mixed Berry," a zero-sugar product. For consumers who monitor their sugar intake due to conditions like diabetes, this could cause medically reversible adverse health consequences. The recall was classified by the FDA as a Class II risk. Consumers in affected states—Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and South Dakota—should check for products with the sell-by date of "DEC 01 25" and code "HHMM DW 08035". The external packaging was correct, but the individual bottles were mislabeled, requiring consumers to inspect both.

Yogi Echinacea Immune Support Pesticide Residue (May 2024)

East West Tea Company, which produces the Yogi brand, voluntarily recalled nearly 900,000 bags of its Organic Echinacea Immune Support tea. The nationwide recall was initiated after routine audits detected pesticide residues above "action levels" in the product. The company stated the contamination likely occurred due to pesticide drift from a neighboring farm and that the level did not pose a significant health risk, leading to a Class III FDA classification. Affected products are 16-count boxes with a UPC code of 0 76950 45010 3 and various lot numbers.

Noteworthy Past Recalls

Recalls happen for a variety of reasons, and reviewing past cases helps understand the full scope of potential risks.

Contamination with Foreign Material

Sweet Leaf Tea (2015): Nestlé Waters North America recalled 1.5 million glass bottles of Sweet Leaf Tea after some consumers found glass fragments inside.
Honest Tea (2003): This brand also faced a Class II recall for glass shard contamination in its bottled iced tea products.

Undeclared Pharmaceutical Ingredients

WS Global Himalayan Pain Relief Tea (2023): This tea was recalled nationwide after the FDA discovered it contained undeclared diclofenac (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and dexamethasone (a corticosteroid), which can interfere with other medications and cause serious side effects.

Bacterial and Toxin Contamination

The Chai Box (2022): The company recalled its Chai Concentrate Mix and Unsweetened Chai Concentrate Mix due to potential Clostridium botulinum contamination from improper processing.
CVS Gold Emblem Abound Organic Spiced Herbal Tea (2016): This herbal tea was recalled because an ingredient from a raw material supplier tested positive for Salmonella.
The Republic of Tea Organic Turmeric Ginger (2016): This product was voluntarily recalled as a precaution due to possible Salmonella contamination traced to a supplier's ginger.

How to Respond to a Tea Recall

If you have purchased a tea that has been recalled, follow these steps to ensure your safety:

Do not consume the product. Regardless of the recall class, it is not worth the risk. Do not attempt to salvage or use the tea in any way.
Verify the product information. Check the batch codes, lot numbers, UPC, and best-by dates against the recall notice issued by the manufacturer or the FDA.
Return or dispose of the item. Most companies and retailers will offer a full refund if you return the recalled product to the place of purchase, even without a receipt. If you cannot return it, dispose of the product properly by sealing it in a plastic bag before discarding it in the trash, ensuring no one else consumes it.
Seek medical advice if necessary. If you or a family member have consumed the recalled product and feel unwell, especially with symptoms related to the recall's cause (e.g., digestive issues for bacteria or allergic reactions for undeclared ingredients), contact a healthcare professional immediately.

Comparison of Recent Major Tea Recalls


Recall Incident	Affected Brand & Product	Reason for Recall	Risk Level (FDA)	Date	Status
Mislabeled Iced Tea	PepsiCo's Lipton Green Tea Citrus	Undeclared sugar due to incorrect individual bottle labels	Class II	Oct 2025	Ongoing
Pesticide Contamination	East West Tea Co.'s Yogi Echinacea Immune Support	Pesticide residue detected above action levels	Class III	May 2024	Completed
Incorrect Ingredient Use	Herbalife International's Relaxation Tea	Incorrect ingredient from a supplier used in manufacturing	Class II	Aug 2025	Completed
Undeclared Drugs	WS Global's Himalayan Pain Relief Tea	Contains undeclared diclofenac and dexamethasone	Class II	2023	Ongoing/Terminated

How the Recall Process Works

When a company or the FDA discovers a potential health risk with a food or beverage, a recall is initiated to remove the product from the market. The FDA classifies recalls into three levels:

Class I: The most serious, involving a reasonable probability that using or being exposed to the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
Class II: Pertains to situations where use or exposure may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, or where the probability of serious health consequences is remote. The Lipton mislabeling is an example.
Class III: The least severe, where use or exposure is not likely to cause adverse health consequences. The Yogi pesticide recall was designated Class III.

For more information on food safety and recall procedures, you can visit the official FoodSafety.gov website.

Conclusion

Several tea recalls have been issued in recent years for reasons ranging from mislabeling to pesticide contamination, each posing a distinct risk to consumers. The October 2025 Lipton Green Tea Citrus recall, caused by a bottle mislabeling that obscured high sugar content, serves as a recent reminder of how manufacturing errors can impact public health. Being aware of what tea has been recalled and knowing how to identify and dispose of affected products is essential for protecting yourself and your family. Always check official sources like the FDA and company websites for the latest recall information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recently, PepsiCo recalled thousands of Lipton Green Tea Citrus bottles in October 2025 due to mislabeling, and East West Tea Company recalled Yogi Echinacea Immune Support tea bags in May 2024 due to pesticide residue.

PepsiCo recalled Lipton Green Tea Citrus because individual bottles containing the full-sugar version were incorrectly labeled as 'Lipton Diet Green Tea Mixed Berry,' which claims to have zero sugar. This mislabeling created a risk for consumers, especially those with diabetes.

The recalled Lipton Green Tea has a sell-by date of 'DEC 01 25' and code 'HHMM DW 08035'. It was sold in 12-pack cases across ten states, including Arizona, Texas, and Colorado.

Yogi recalled its Echinacea Immune Support tea after pesticide residues were detected above the FDA's action levels during routine quality checks. The contamination is believed to have resulted from pesticide drift from a neighboring farm.

If you have a recalled tea, do not consume it. You should either dispose of it safely or return it to the store where you bought it for a full refund.

For those who do not monitor their sugar intake for medical reasons, the recalled Lipton tea is not inherently harmful, as the recall was due to a labeling error, not a foodborne illness. However, it is not the advertised product, and you are still entitled to a refund.

The FDA uses three classifications: Class I for serious health consequences or death, Class II for temporary or reversible adverse health consequences, and Class III for situations not likely to cause adverse health consequences.