Apple Juice Recall: 7,234 Cases Recalled for Potential Mold Contamination

If you or your kids like to start the day with apple juice, it’s extra important to check the label. We learned from a recall announcement shared with grocery stores that Martinelli’s apple juice (in cute glass bottles shaped like apples) could contain mold.

What caused the recall?

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Martinelli’s recalled 7,234 cases of apple juice because of potential contamination with patulin.

If you didn’t know what patulin is, that’s OK—I didn’t either, until I looked it up. I learned that patulin is a mycotoxin, aka a toxic substance produced by mold. When apples grow mold, that mold produces patulin. If the contaminated apples are used to create juice, then that juice would also contain elevated levels of patulin.

Since it’s a toxin, elevated patulin levels can make you sick. If you eat or drink something contaminated with patulin, you could experience a stomachache, nausea or vomiting.

This recall was originally shared on March 18, but was very recently classified as a Class II recall on April 22. There are three levels of classification for recalls, and Class II means “use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” according to the FDA.

What stores sold the apple juice?

No specific retailers were identified in the recall shared by the FDA, so check your juice regardless of where you shop. And this apple juice was distributed to a lot of states.

The apple juice was produced by S. Martinelli & Company and distributed to stores in 28 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

How do I know if I have a recalled apple juice?

Courtesy FDA

Thankfully, this recall only affects one lot of Martinelli’s apple juice. Like I mentioned before, this juice comes in a pack of bulbous glass jars with white metal lids. Here’s what to look for on the label:

Martinelli’s Apple Juice

• Size: 4 10-ounce bottles
• UPC: 0 41244 04102 2
• Best by date: 05 DEC 2026

What should I do next?

If you have any of the apple juice, don’t drink it. Throw it out, or return it to the store where you bought it. If you or your kids drink the juice and feel ill, go to the doctor. And if you have any specific questions about the apple juice, contact Martinelli’s directly at 1 (800) 622-1868.