Home »

California-Headquartered Business Recalls Juice Due to Potential Mycotoxin Contamination

Food Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	7/1/2025
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	California-Headquartered Business Recalls Juice Due to Potential Mycotoxin Contamination
Introduction	LA Testing’s network of laboratories provides food and beverage testing services to identify mycotoxins and other contaminants to protect consumers, and to help companies avoid costly product recalls.
Huntington Beach, California, July 1, 2025 The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently published information about the recall of over 7,000 cases of apple juice by a company headquartered in Santa Cruz County. The voluntary recall involves product that was distributed in California and to over 25 other states. The juice was recalled due to concerns over potential contamination with patulin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Byssochylamys molds that grow on fruit, grains, and cheese. The best-known example is patulin in juice or cider made from apples. Good harvest and storage practices - such as removing rotten portions of fruit - can get rid of or greatly reduce patulin contamination. Fermentation also appears to destroy patulin so it is not typically found in vinegar or alcohol made from fruit susceptible to the molds. The risk of patulin contamination increases when companies use moldy apples to make apple juice. Pasteurization won’t get rid of patulin. Drinking the contaminated apple juice can cause nausea, vomiting, and possibly damage the DNA in some body cells. “Many types of food, beverages, and animal feed are susceptible to mycotoxin issues,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “This is why the FDA has a monitoring program to help ensure foods are not contaminated that reach consumers. At LA Testing, our network of laboratories works with manufacturers, retailers, importers, exporters, regulatory agencies, and the public to identify the presence of a wide range of mycotoxins. We also offer testing for other microbial and chemical contaminants. Testing is instrumental for protecting consumers, and for helping to prevent these types of costly product recalls.” To learn more about mycotoxins or other food and beverage testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com or www.FoodTestingLab.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794. About LA Testing LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.