Real Water Water, Inc., of Mesa, AZ and Henderson, NV with a bottling facility in Hildale, UT has issued a voluntary recall of all sizes of Real Water brand drinking water; this water may be linked to instances of non-viral hepatitis reported in or about November 2020 in the Las Vegas, NV area. Symptoms of hepatitis, including non-viral hepatitis, include fever, fatigue, loss

 of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay or gray-colored bowel movements, joint pain, yellow eyes, and jaundice. Those experiencing symptoms should contact their doctor. 

Recalled products include 1.5 liter, 1 liter, 500 ml, and 1 gallon ready-to-drink bottles distributed throughout the United States, including Utah, and are sold on Amazon.com. 5-gallon home and office delivery bottles were distributed through direct delivery to homes and offices in the greater Las Vegas, NV area, central California coastal region, and Phoenix, AZ. Also included in the recall are 4oz bottles of Real Water Concentrate, sold on the firm’s website. 

Consumers who may have recalled products should discard it immediately and not drink or cook with it. Customers of Real Water’s 5-gallon Home and Office Delivery should contact Real Water at the number or email below to have any remaining product picked up. Consumers who purchased Real Water ready-to-drink bottles may return it to the place of purchase or contact Real Water for refund. 

The ready-to-drink bottles sold in retail stores have a blue rectangular bottle with “Real Alkalized Water” printed on the label. 5-Gallon home and office delivery bottles are blue with white labels. The products have been embargoed in Utah. Distributors have been notified of the recall and instructed to immediately remove recalled products from all store shelves, distribution, and other inventories to ensure they are no longer available for sale or consumption. 

The recall is the result of an investigation by the Southern Nevada Health District and the FDA after reported cases of non-viral hepatitis in or about November 2020 were suspected to be potentially linked to Real Water’s 5-gallon Home and Office Delivery. The company has ceased production and distribution of the product as the FDA and the company continue their investigations into the potential cause of the problem. 

For additional information, see the full company announcement here. 

Real Water Inc. contact information for consumers: phone: (702)310-5437; email: customerservice@drinkrealwater.com

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Invasive Insect Program will be hosting a Japanese beetle (JB) eradication virtual open house Thursday, March 25 from 6:00-8:00pm. The meeting is open to public comment and can be accessed via Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/utahagriculture.

For more information visit https://ag.utah.gov/jberadication/

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Since 1993 the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) Invasive Insect Program has taken extensive measures to exclude Japanese beetle (JB) from the state. JB is a destructive, invasive pest that feeds on the foliage of over 300 different plants, including many popular and economically important fruit, vegetable and ornamental plants. JB cost infested states approximately $460 million annually to control the pest and replace damaged host plants. 

2020 UDAF trapping data indicates that eradication efforts in Salt Lake County have been highly successful. In 2020, 15 JB were detected in Salt Lake County, a 58% reduction in the number found in the emergency infestation area in 2019. Unfortunately, JB populations increased in Davis County (where no treatments were performed in spring of 2020) and new, small populations were detected in Utah and Weber Counties. In response to this infestation, UDAF has declared an Insect Emergency Infestation and has devised an eradication plan to ensure that the Japanese beetle (JB) does not become established in Utah. 

UDAF plans to contract a licensed commercial pest control operator to apply a non-restricted use pesticide, Acelepryn® SC, on irrigated turf in areas identified as having a high risk of JB establishment. This pesticide is proven effective in controlling JB and has low toxicity for bees, as well as humans, pets, birds and earthworms. Pesticide application is scheduled to begin in April and end in early May. Though the product has an excellent safety record, UDAF will be taking extraordinary supplemental efforts to ensure pesticide applications have minimal impact on residents and the environment. The pest control company chosen will be trained in best practices for pollinator protection and registered beekeepers will be notified in advance of applications. Owners or occupants of property may prohibit treatment by presenting an affidavit from their attending physician or physician assistant to the department. Persons granted a medical waiver will be required to complete alternative, approved non-chemical measures. 

UDAF will be hosting a virtual public meeting to provide more information about this eradication plan on Thursday, March 25, from 6:00-8:00 pm at https://facebook.com/utahagriculture. 

Questions or concerns may be directed to State Entomologist Kristopher Watson at (801) 982-2311 or UDAF-insects@utah.gov. Additional information can be found here.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s Regulatory Services Division is home to the Weights and Measures Program and State Metrology Lab. This week, we’re acknowledging and giving thanks to the hardworking public servants who dedicate their time to ensuring equity prevails in the marketplace. From price verification to scale and fuel inspections – there’s hardly a day that passes isn’t impacted in some way by the efforts of these professionals.

UDAF personnel work their way through every corner of the state to inspect and ensure the accuracy of all weighing or measuring devices used in commercial applications. These include devices that weigh or measure foods as well as those used in shipping facilities, hardware or bulk goods stores, and even airport luggage scales.

Weights and Measures inspectors also verify pricing, checkout scanners, fuel pumps and quality, and more. They also respond to numerous consumer complaints dealing with violations of the weights and measures laws, providing protection to both consumers and retailers from unfair practices.

The next time you purchase a 2lbs bag of apples, weigh your luggage in the airport, fill your vehicle’s fuel tank, or trust that the price you see ring up at checkout is the same as the price that was listed on the store shelf, there’s a UDAF Weights and Measures professional to thank for ensuring the equity prevails for both the consumer and business.

Learn more at https://ag.utah.gov/businesses/regulatory-services/weights-measures/

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is seeking grant proposals for the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. This grant is available for projects designed to increase production, consumption and availability of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops in Utah. The application window is open from January 25, 2021 through April 27, 2021. 

Eligible projects for the federally funded Specialty Crop Block Grant Program should be designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in areas such as marketing, promotion, education, research, trade and increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops. Specialty Crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture); a full list of specialty crops is available ​here​.

This year, approximately $350,000 is available to the state of Utah. Individual producers, producer groups, organizations, and associations, as well as state and local organizations, academia and other specialty crops stakeholders are eligible to apply either as single entities or in combined efforts. Each project must demonstrate measurable benefits for the specialty crop industry and must assist more than just a single producer or company and must include an educational component. 

Due to the increased awareness of and the need for a safe and local food supply during the pandemic, UDAF encourages agriculture and food producers to apply. 

For more information, click here​. To apply and for any questions, email Calli Nielsen Forsyth: ​callinielsen@utah.gov.

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