PepsiCo recalls 122,021 cases of Gatorade over undeclared food dyes

PepsiCo has initiated a voluntary recall of 122,021 cases of Gatorade across 37 states after federal regulators warned that the non-carbonated sports drinks contain undeclared artificial food colorings.

FDA Issues Class II Recall for 37 States

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning on October 2, 2026, following the company’s September 25 action. The enforcement report classifies the recall as Class II. This category applies when the use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where the probability of serious adverse health events is remote. The affected inventory comprises 28-ounce bottles distributed across 37 states, including California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

The affected products involve four specific flavor variants:

• Lemon Lime Gatorade
• Gatorade Zero Lemon Lime
• Orange Gatorade
• Gatorade Zero Orange

Undeclared Synthetic Dyes May Trigger Allergic Responses

According to the regulatory findings, the bottles contain Yellow No. 5, also known as tartrazine, and Yellow No. 6, also known as sunset yellow. While both synthetic dyes are approved by the FDA for use in food and beverages under specific conditions, federal regulations mandate their explicit disclosure on product ingredient labels. The omission prevents consumers with known sensitivities from avoiding the ingredients.

Research from the National Library of Medicine indicates that these synthetic food colorings can trigger allergic responses in susceptible individuals, including hives and asthma symptoms. The regulatory agency notes that such reactions are uncommon in the general population but occur more frequently in individuals with sensitivities to aspirin.

Consumers Can Verify Products via Lot Numbers

The distribution footprint spans 37 states alphabetically: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Consumers who purchased the beverages can verify the contents by checking specific lot numbers and expiration dates stamped on the packaging. The identified batches include:

• 091026 DL – June 7, 2027
• 091126 DL – June 8, 2027
• 072226 DT – April 18, 2027
• 072426 TL – April 20, 2027
• 073126 TL – April 27, 2027
• 072926 TL – April 25, 2027
• 073026 TL – April 25, 2027
• 081026 TL – May 7, 2027
• 082126 OA – April 18, 2027
• 080126 DL – April 28, 2027
• 082026 DL – May 17, 2027
• 083126 DT – June 7, 2027
• 082526 KM – May 22, 2027
• 090426 KM – June 1, 2027
• 072726 TL – April 23, 2027

Regulatory officials and company representatives are continuing to monitor the remaining inventory as the recall proceeds.