More than 38,000 gallons of distilled water have been recalled after reports of an unidentified black substance floating inside the product, according to WJW.
What’s happening?
On Jan. 17, WJW reported that Meijer issued a voluntary recall affecting six states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The recall involves Meijer Steam Distilled Water sold in one-gallon jugs. Affected products share the same lot code (39-222 #3), UPC (041250841197), and expiration date of Oct. 4, 2026.
The Food and Drug Administration said the recall was triggered by a “floating black foreign substance” found in the water. The agency did not identify the material or provide further details.
According to WebMD, distilled water is considered ideal when purity is critical because the distillation process removes bacteria, minerals, contaminants, and other impurities. It is commonly used for infant formula, CPAP machines, laboratory testing, and cleaning sensitive medical equipment such as dialysis machines.
Why is this concerning?
Distilled water is typically used in situations where even filtered water is not pure enough. As a result, contamination raises concerns for consumers who may use it in neti pots, baby formula, or home medical care.
The FDA’s recall notice shows Meijer initiated the recall on Nov. 13, though the first media report appeared on Jan. 9 through Allrecipes. At the time, the FDA had not assigned a risk level. The recall was later classified as a Class 2 recall on Jan. 20.
The FDA defines a Class 2 recall as one in which use of the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, or where the likelihood of serious health consequences is low.
This recall follows similar delays seen in other cases. In October, the FDA took weeks to announce a market-specific Coca-Cola recall. Reuters reported in April that federal staffing cuts reduced FDA food safety inspections, while cuts at the Department of Agriculture further strained food quality oversight.
By November, ProPublica reported that FDA inspections of foreign food facilities had dropped to historic lows.
What’s being done about it?
A Jan. 13 report from The Guardian cited former officials who raised concerns about delayed FDA warnings, referencing a 2025 listeria outbreak that killed six people.
“I am concerned that it’s like that kids’ game Jenga,” said Sandra Eskin, former USDA undersecretary. “If you pull one piece out, the whole thing can fall apart.”
Several former officials, speaking anonymously, warned that workforce reductions could weaken public health protections. One former FDA employee told The Guardian, “This decimation of the federal workforce will set us back for decades. We are no longer a world leader in public health, and that’s a scary thing.”
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