STATE : Koala Mineral Water Recalled

Koala Springs International today pulled its popular juice-based mineral water drinks from retail shelves after “minute traces” of toxic benzene were found in some samples.

Hundreds of thousands of bottles and cans of the beverages were recalled because 11 to 18 parts per billion of the clear, poisonous solvent were discovered in some samples tested in Florida, said company President John Chatham at a news conference at Koala’s U.S. headquarters.

Ken August, a spokesman for the state Department of Health Services, said apparently none of the tainted water reached the shelves of California retailers.

“Our understanding is that this batch was manufactured and distributed in Chicago and none of it made it to California,” August said. “To my knowledge, none of that tainted product has been sold here.”