Bell's Issues Automatic, Voluntary Recall For Bottles Of Mercury Purchased In Specific Michigan Counties

COMSTOCK, Mich. – Today, Dec. 23, 2014, Bell’s Brewery, Inc. is issuing an automatic, voluntary recall on specific bottles of Mercury: The Winged Messenger which may contain a slight glass defect on the outside lip that could result in small pieces to become dislodged from the bottle.

This recall only applies to bottles purchased in specific counties in Michigan (listed below), not the entire packaging run. It does not affect purchases made in any other state or those purchased at the Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo.

This recall was initiated after a customer contacted Bell’s directly about an issue when removing the crown. No one was injured. An internal investigative process was immediately initiated which traced this potential defect to a single pallet of glass bottles received by Bell’s.

Bell’s does not manufacture its bottles and has been working with its supplier to further protect the safety of its customers.

“We have zero tolerance for any glass defects and while the chances are small that this could come up again, we are doing everything we can to address this situation and making sure all bottles are immediately pulled from store shelves and distributor warehouses,” said Laura Bell, Bell’s Vice President.

If anyone has purchased Mercury in the counties listed below and still has unopened bottles, they should not drink the beer.

Customers should also not attempt to return the beer to the store it was purchased at.

Those in possession of these Mercury bottles should contact the brewery directly via a special form on its website:bellsbeer.com.

Customers in the Kalamazoo area can also return unopened Mercury bottles to the Bell’s General Store for an exchange, based on availability.

“We will do everything in our power to try and make this right. Quality is first and foremost in all areas. We will work to ensure this does not happen again,” Bell said.

Anyone who has consumed beer from an affected bottle and becomes ill, or shows signs of complications, should see a physician immediately.

Affected counties:

Allegan

Antrim

Barry

Benzie

Berrien

Branch

Calhoun

Cass

Clare

Clinton

Eaton

Grand Traverse

Gratiot

Ingham

Ionia

Isabella

Jackson

Kalamazoo

Kalkaska

Kent

Lake

Leelanau

Lenawee

Livingston

Macomb

Manistee

Mason

Mecosta

Missaukee

Monroe

Montcalm

Muskegon

Newaygo

Oakland

Oceana

Osceola

Ottawa

Shiawassee

St. Joseph

Van Buren

Washtenaw

Wayne

Wexford