Press Releases

06/17/2011

Consumers Advised to Heed Voluntary Recall of Some Bacardi MARTINI Asti Sparkling Wine in 1.5 Liter Bottles

HARTFORD, June 17 – Consumers who have any Bacardi MARTINI Asti Sparkling Wine in 1.5 liter bottles at home are being urged to take heed of a voluntary recall announced yesterday by Bacardi U.S.A., Inc., the Department of Consumer Protection advised today.

Bacardi is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of MARTINI Asti Sparkling Wine 1.5 liter bottles nationally, including Connecticut, based on confirmed reports that some MARTINI Asti Sparkling Wine 1.5 liter products have burst, either in their case or on retail shelves. Several reports of such bursting bottles were confirmed in Connecticut.

“The Department of Consumer Protection Liquor Control Division has been communicating with Bacardi representatives on this issue, and we support the company’s voluntary action to safeguard consumers,” Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said today. “Retailers and wholesalers are removing the recalled items from sale, but it’s critical that consumers pay close attention and follow the company’s instructions on how to safely handle and return any recalled bottles.”

To date, there have been no reports of consumer injuries from bottles that have burst. However, consumers should not use any unopened 1.5 Liter bottles of Bacardi MARTINI Asti sparkling wine that bear the following Lot Codes:

L10236, L10237, L10238, L10239, L10242, L10243, L10244

L10278, L10279, L10281, L10284, L10285, L10321

The codes are ink-jet printed on the back of the bottle, at the bottom of the paper label. On the case box, the Lot Code can be found ink jet printed on the side of the box, above the product description label.

Bacardi is advising consumers who have a MARTINI Asti 1.5 liter bottle, to handle it carefully with gloves and protective eyewear to determine if the bottle is printed with one of the affected lot codes. If you have a bottle containing one of these codes, please locate the bottle to a safe place and call the MARTINI Asti Response Line at 1-800-406-0096 where you will be given detailed instructions on how to return the product. Once received, Bacardi USA will issue a full product refund.

The Department of Consumer Protection will continue to monitor the issue.

For more information on the recall, please contact Bacardi’s MARTINI Asti Response Line at

(800) 406-0096

Bacardi Media Contact: Amy Federman, 441-294-1110 afederman@bacardi.com

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