By Xenom 
The Berkeley Club Beverages recall terminated on November 13, 2024, after bacteria was found in some of their bottled water. As someone who lives in West Virginia and regularly buys local water, I dug into the official reports to find out what really happened.
What Happened With Berkeley Club Beverages Water?
On September 12, 2024, Berkeley Club Beverages pulled some of their water from store shelves.
They found bacteria in their water that shouldn’t be there. Not the dangerous kind that makes you sick right away, but the kind that signals something might be wrong with how the water was cleaned.
The affected products were:
- “Berkeley Springs Water Purified” in 1-gallon and 5-gallon bottles
- “Berkeley Springs Water Distilled” in 1-gallon and 5-gallon bottles
- Only bottles with these numbers: 090326, 090426, 090526, 090626
- Only sold in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia
My neighbor Sarah was among those who checked their pantry after hearing about the recall. “I had just bought a case the week before and was relieved to see different numbers on my bottles,” she told me while we chatted at the Berkeley Springs Farmers Market last weekend.
What made this recall unusual was a major reporting mistake. The FDA initially claimed over 151,000 bottles needed to be pulled from shelves. The real number? Just 1,034 bottles.
A company spokesperson called this a “tremendous mistake” that caused unnecessary worry for customers across the three states.
Timeline: How the Berkeley Springs Water Recall Unfolded
Here’s exactly what happened when:
September 12, 2024: Berkeley Club Beverages found bacteria during routine testing and immediately started the recall
November 8, 2024: The FDA officially labeled it a “Class III recall” (their lowest risk category)
November 13, 2024: The FDA officially ended the recall after confirming the company had fixed the problem
The “Class III” label is important – it means drinking the water wasn’t likely to make anyone sick. This was more about following strict rules than an actual health emergency.
According to the Food Industry Counsel’s recall database, most bottled water recalls fall into this category.
Why Bacteria in Bottled Water Matters (But Shouldn’t Panic You)
The bacteria found (called “coliform”) acts like a warning light on your car’s dashboard.
It usually doesn’t make you sick by itself, but it suggests something might not be working right in the water cleaning process.
The FDA doesn’t allow any of these bacteria in bottled water, which is why even a small amount triggers a recall.
Tom Miller, who runs a small convenience store in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, told me: “My customers were confused about how serious this was. I explained that it was more of a technical issue than a health scare, which helped calm people down.”
Water testing labs can find incredibly tiny amounts of bacteria – as little as one bacterial cell in 100ml of water. That’s like finding a single grain of sand in a bathtub.
Why the Berkeley Club Beverages Recall Ended
For the FDA to end a recall, companies need to:
- Remove all affected bottles from stores
- Properly dispose of the contaminated water
- Fix whatever caused the problem
- Prove their water is now clean through testing
Berkeley Club Beverages did all this within two months. The company confirmed they recovered and properly disposed of most of the 1,034 affected bottles.
Most importantly, no one reported getting sick from drinking the water, which backs up the FDA’s assessment that the risk was low.
Communication Problems During the Berkeley Water Recall
This recall exposed some concerning issues in how food safety information reaches consumers:
- Website Problems: People who tried to visit the recall information website were sent to a gambling website instead.
- FDA Reporting Error: The FDA initially claimed nearly 150,000 extra bottles were affected, causing unnecessary alarm.
- Unclear Business Status: While some reports suggested the company stopped operations, Berkeley County government purchase records show they continued delivering water in October 2024.
Mary Jenkins, a Berkeley Springs resident, summed up the confusion: “I heard three different stories from three different places. First that all their water was contaminated, then that they were shut down completely, then that everything was fine. It was frustrating.”
What Should You Do If You Have Berkeley Springs Water?
If you have any Berkeley Club Beverages water in your home:
- Check the numbers on your bottles against the recalled codes (090326, 090426, 090526, 090626)
- If they match, throw them away even though the recall is over
- If they don’t match, the water is safe to drink
For safe bottled water storage in general:
- Keep bottles out of direct sunlight
- Don’t ignore “best by” dates
- Check that the seal is intact when you first open it
How This Compares to Other Bottled Water Recalls
The Berkeley Club Beverages recall was actually quite small compared to others:
- Berkeley Club Beverages (September-November 2024): 1,034 bottles affected, no illnesses, lowest risk level
- Fiji Water (Summer 2024): Similar bacteria issues, regional distribution
- Real Alkalized Water (Spring 2024): Connected to serious liver problems, much higher health risk
When I spoke with John Matthews, who manages a regional grocery chain distribution center, he noted, “The Berkeley recall barely registered on our radar compared to some of the larger national recalls we’ve handled.”
According to the FDA’s monitoring reports, most bottled water recalls are precautionary rather than responses to actual illnesses.
Lessons for Bottled Water Drinkers in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia
This local recall teaches us a few important things:
For companies:
- Test products more often than required
- Have a backup website ready for recall information
- Double-check numbers before reporting to regulators
For consumers in the tri-state area:
- Pay attention to the risk level when you hear about recalls
- Understand that voluntary recalls often show a company being careful
- Check product codes rather than panicking about brand names
Susan Taylor from the Berkeley Springs Tourism Office told me, “Our town is known for its water quality. This minor issue with one company doesn’t change the centuries of safe, beneficial water our region is famous for.”
FAQs About the Berkeley Club Beverages Recall Termination
What exactly was wrong with Berkeley Club Beverages water?
Testing found coliform bacteria in some bottles. These bacteria usually don’t make you sick but aren’t allowed in bottled water under FDA rules.
How many bottles were actually recalled?
1,034 bottles, not the 151,397 bottles initially reported by the FDA. This huge reporting error caused unnecessary concern.
Did anyone get sick from drinking this water?
No illnesses were reported. The FDA classified this as their lowest risk level for recalls.
When exactly did the FDA end the recall?
The FDA formally ended (terminated) the recall on November 13, 2024, after confirming the company had successfully addressed the problem.
Is Berkeley Club Beverages water safe to buy now?
Yes. The FDA’s decision to end the recall means they’re satisfied the issue has been fixed. Current production meets safety standards.
How can I check if my bottled water is part of any recall?
Look for the lot code printed on your bottle and compare it with recall notices. For this recall, the affected codes were 090326, 090426, 090526, and 090626.
What This Means for Bottled Water Safety Going Forward
Better testing methods now catch problems earlier than ever:
- Labs can detect bacteria at incredibly low levels
- Rules for bottled water are stricter than for tap water in many places
- Companies can trace exactly which production runs might be affected
When I visited the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting event in February 2025, the Berkeley Club Beverages display noted their “enhanced quality protocols” – a subtle reference to lessons learned from this recall.
Local resident Mike Dawson, who’s been drinking Berkeley Springs water for 40 years, put it in perspective: “Water from these springs has been considered healing since before America was founded. One small recall doesn’t change that legacy.”
The Berkeley Club Beverages recall terminated after they fixed the problem and removed affected products from stores. This shows how the system works to keep our water safe while responding appropriately to the actual level of risk.