PepsiCo Inc. has recalled nearly 70,000 bottles of Lipton Tea over a labeling error, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The brand’s Green Tea Citrus flavor, which contains 25 grams (g) of sugar per bottle, was mistakenly put in bottles labeled as Diet Green Tea Mixed Berry, which is supposed to be sugar-free.
The incorrectly labeled bottles were then put in 12-packs with the correct Green Tea Citrus label.
Here’s how to know if your tea is affected.
The recalled tea can be identified by the following information:
- Product description: Lipton Green Tea Citrus (16.9 oz.) in bottles mistakenly labeled Lipton Diet Green Tea Mixed Berry
- Outer packaging: Lipton Green Tea Citrus (12-pack)
- Sell-by date: Dec. 1, 2025
- Product code: HHMM DW 08035
- Affected cases: 2,854
Per the FDA’s notice, each case contains two 12-packs of tea, meaning a total of 68,496 bottles are under recall.
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The recalled products were distributed in the following states:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Utah
- Texas
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Oklahoma
- Wyoming
- South Dakota
Due to the packaging error, the individual Lipton Green Tea Citrus bottles are labeled as Diet Mixed Berry, but they’re not sugar-free—they actually contain 25 g of sugar.
Sugar content errors pose a particular risk to people with diabetes who must monitor their blood sugar levels. An incorrect sugar label could lead to either hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can quickly become dangerous if untreated.
PepsiCo initiated the tea recall on Sept. 17. On Oct. 2, the FDA updated the recall and gave it the second-highest risk level, Class II, which means drinking the tea “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
The recall is still ongoing.
The FDA did not provide specific instructions for this recall. Still, as a Class II recall, the safest option is not to drink the recalled tea, and toss or return it instead—especially if you or a loved one has diabetes or is concerned about sugar intake.
