Recalls can be issued on food products for several reasons.
For one, they may be found to be contaminated with salmonella, listeria, E. coli or some other food poisoning-causing bacteria. Some foods may even be contaminated with radioactive compounds, as was the case for a recent shrimp recall in the US.
More often, however, it’s down to simple mislabelling. Whether it’s an ingredient that’s gone unlisted in the product information, or a complete mispackaging as was the case with some energy drinks that were mistakenly filled with a vodka-based drink, the issue here is the public mistakenly purchasing products that may not be suitable for them and their particular health needs.
A recent recall was issued on Dr Pepper cans, for example, where the zero-sugar variety had been mistakenly filled with the regular stuff. For people avoiding sugar for health reasons, this kind of mistake could have posed a significant issue.
And it seems the good folks at Keurig Dr Pepper, owner of the Dr Pepper and 7Up brands in the US, can’t catch a break where mislabelling is concerned: the same thing has happened with a 7Up product.
Over 20,000 cans of 7Up Zero Sugar Tropical have been recalled by the US Food and Drug Administation (FDA). The manufacturer, Buffalo Rock Company, has said the affected items have been mistakenly filled with the full-sugar version of the soft drink.
The recall as launched by the manufacturer on 31 July 2025, with the FDA making its own announcement about the issue on 20 August.
Per the FDA, the recall is ‘Class II’, meaning the affected products ‘may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences’.
While many soda drinkers can chug down a full-sugar version without issue, even if they prefer the diet stuff, for diabetics and other sugar-cautious consumers it could pose a real and immediate health risk.
The recall affects cans sold in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, with consumers being advised to check their cans before consumption.
Affected cans carry the universal product code (UPC) 078000037975, while the cartons carry 078000037982
The lot lot numbers are XXXXBR062156 and XXXXBR062256, and all affected cans have a 23 March 2026 expiry date.
While the FDA hasn’t issued advice for customers affected by the recalled soda, the standard practice is to discard the product or return it to the store where it was purchased. If you aren’t concerned about the sugar content, the cans are otherwise safe to drink.
Featured Image Credit: darios44/Getty Images
Rachael Davis