It used to be that grabbing an energy drink meant a jolt of caffeine and maybe some regrets about your sleep schedule. But now? It might come with a splash of vodka, no joke. A recent batch of canned drinks looked like your average Celsius pick-me-up, but what was inside told a different story. The product looked like a typical energy drink, but testing showed it contained something entirely different… something consumers wouldn’t expect from that kind of label.
A Surprising Discovery Inside the Can
During a quality control review, a can labeled as found to contain something unexpected: alcohol. As it turned out, some cans labeled as non-alcoholic energy drinks actually contained High Noon vodka seltzer. Yes, the kind with real booze. No one got hurt, thankfully, but the discovery raised serious questions. How did this happen? And how many cans are out there, quietly posing as something they’re not?
What High Noon Says Happened
High Noon says the issue originated at a third-party shared packaging facility that handles multiple beverage brands. Somewhere along the way, Cans meant for vodka seltzer were mislabeled as Celsius. It wasn’t on purpose, and it slipped through before anyone caught it. They’re calling it a limited mix-up, but let’s be real, when the label says no alcohol and the can says otherwise, even one wrong sip is a big deal.
Not Just Any Mix-Up, This Involves Alcohol
This isn’t just a “wrong flavor in the box” kind of mistake. We’re talking about actual alcohol in cans that were supposed to be alcohol-free. That’s a real problem especially for people who can’t or don’t drink for health, faith, or personal reasons. Or for teens who might grab one without thinking twice. High Noon’s seltzers pack about 4.5% alcohol, so, not exactly a harmless mistake. While no one may have meant for this to happen, the result could still put some consumers in risky or uncomfortable situations.
How Vodka Ended Up in Celsius-Labeled Can
The cans involved were part of a shared packaging facility. While that’s not unusual in the industry, it does mean mistakes (like swapping the wrong label or filling line) can happen. In this case, the issue came down to mislabeled shrink sleeves. The outside said Celsius, but inside was vodka seltzer. A simple packaging error, yes, but one with real-world implications, especially when two very different drinks share such a similar lookv.
Where the Affected Cans Were Sent
The mislabeled cans didn’t go nationwide, but they did make it to several states, including Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin, before the recall. High Noon says the problem was limited to a specific batch, distributed in July. They haven’t released an exact store list yet, but retailers have been notified and are pulling the affected cans.
Although there have been no official reports of consumers realizing the error before the recall, if you recently picked up a pack of Celsius and something felt off, taste, fizz, or just that odd little afterburn, it might be worth checking the label details a little more closely.
Who Might Have Drunk These Without Knowing?
So far, there haven’t been any confirmed reports of someone drinking one. But it raises a clear concern – what if someone had? Imagine reaching for an energy boost after a workout and getting alcohol instead.
Why? The cans looked totally normal, so unless you tasted something strange, you’d never know. And for people avoiding alcohol because of health reasons, recovery, religion, or just not being of age, this kind of mistake can shake confidence in what’s safe to grab off the shelf. One label mix-up shouldn’t lead to someone drinking something they never agreed to.
What Celsius Had to Say About the Confusion
Celsius didn’t fill the cans, and they didn’t cause the mix-up, but their branding ended up on cans with vodka inside. In their statement, Celsius said they had no part in producing this batch and are now working with High Noon to sort it out. Their name’s now floating around in headlines about mislabeled alcohol in the states where the batch had been sent to. And this is definitely not the kind of publicity a wellness brand wants.
What to Do If You Bought One of These Cans
It’s unlikely that any of these cans made it into your hands. High Noon caught the issue early and moved quickly to pull them from stores. But just in case, it’s worth a quick check. If you recently picked up a High Noon Beach Variety 12-pack or Celsius Blue Razz, take a look. The affected lot codes are between L CCB 02JL25 2:55 and L CCB 02JL25 3:11, and the can may have a silver top instead of Celsius’s usual black. Questions? Call 1-844-922-3866 for support or a refund.
Why This Recall Matters Beyond One Brand
At first, it sounds like a simple slip-up… wrong label, wrong can, easy fix. But when alcohol ends up where it’s not supposed to, it points to something bigger. Shared lines. Rushed schedules. Not enough eyes on the final product. Stuff that makes you wonder how often this kind of thing almost happens. And then there’s trust. People count on labels to mean what they say. If even that’s fuzzy, where does that leave the rest of us? What looks like one company’s error can reveal weak spots in the whole process.