Raw Kombucha Products Pulled from Whole Foods’ Shelves

Posted June 17, 2010 5:49 pm by BevNET.com Staff

Whole Foods is pulling all unpasteurized kombucha beverages from its shelves, including market leader GTs Kombucha, according to a report in Beverage Business Insights.

According to BBI, the reason for this withdrawal is a long-simmering set of concerns about alcohol in kombucha, a product that is produced by fermented tea.

At a local Whole Foods Market, all kombucha products have been removed from the store shelves.  In its place was a sign stating "Key suppliers and Whole Foods Market have elected to voluntarily withdraw Kombucha products in bottles and on tap from our stores at this time due to labeling concerns related to slightly elevated alcohol levels in some products.  This is not a quality issue. Sorry for any inconvenience."

Stay tuned for more information.