Fruit Shoot Drink Recall Warning

Outline
Messages circulating via social media and email claim that bottles of children's drink Fruit Shoot that feature a new type of cap are a potential choking hazard for children and have been recalled.

Brief Analysis
The claims in the warnings are true. In July 2012, UK based drinks company Britvic issued a recall for all bottles of Robinsons Fruit Shoot that have a new type of cap. The company recalled the new style bottles as a precautionary measure because of safety concerns about the cap design. Consumers have been advised to return the drinks to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Detailed analysis and references below example.

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Last updated: July 5, 2012
First published: July 5, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer

Examples

THIS IS AN URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL PLEASE RETURN THE NEW FRUITSHOOT BOTTLES AS THEY ARE A CHOKING HAZZARD TO CHILDREN PLEASE RETURN THEM ASAP AND PLEASE SHARE THIS APPEAL THANKS XX

Fruit Shoot recalled, the push lids are very dangerous Kids are pulling off the push caps that they drink out of and choking if you have any return them to the shop for a full refund

Detailed Analysis
A number of messages are currently circulating via social media posts and email that claim that bottles of children's drink Fruit Shoot are being recalled because of a possible safety problem. The messages warn that caps on newly designed bottles of the product may present a potential chocking hazard to children.

The warnings are true. UK based company Britvic, the makers of the drink, issued a recall in July 2012 for all bottles of Robinsons Fruit Shoot and Fruit Shoot Hydro as a precaution. A July 3 article about the recall in The Telegraph notes:

All bottles of popular children's drink Robinsons Fruit Shoot which feature a new cap design are being recalled because of a ''packaging safety issue'', its maker said.
All bottles of the drink and spin-off Fruit Shoot Hydro, a flavoured mineral water aimed at children aged seven to 11, featuring the new design are being recalled in what Britvic called a ''precautionary measure''.

A statement on the Britvic website explains:

We have identified that a small number of caps on Fruit Shoot (new design) have been damaged during the manufacturing process.
This is fundamentally a quality issue but as the damaged caps may become fully or partially detached, we recognise that there could potentially be a very small safety risk.

In a separate statement about the recall on its website, Britvic also notes:

Britvic Soft Drinks is recalling ALL Robinsons Fruit Shoot and Fruit Shoot Hydro packs, featuring the new design cap, due to a packaging safety issue.
Consumers with any affected product should return it to the retailer for a refund.

Other Robinson products are not affected and are not being recalled. The recall does not affect Fruit Shoot sold in the United States, Australia or Ireland.

References
Britvic recalls Robinsons Fruit Shoot over cap safety
CONSUMER Q&A PRODUCT RECALL UK: ROBINSONS FRUIT SHOOT, ROBINSONS FRUIT SHOOT HYDRO
PRODUCT RECALL GREAT BRITAIN: ROBINSONS FRUIT SHOOT, ROBINSONS FRUIT SHOOT HYDRO
Britvic Recalls Fruit Shoot Packs, GBP1M to GBP5M Hit to Pretax Profit

Last updated: July 5, 2012
First published: July 5, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer