wafflesatnoon.com » Hoaxes & Rumors » The Capri Sun Mold and Worms Warning
The Capri Sun Mold and Worms Warning
Reports that Capri Sun, the popular children’s drink, has been found to contain mold or worms is a hot news item this week, fueled by a photo which appears to show a moldy cup of juice. What is the truth about this story?
The mold is real, but the worms likely aren’t.
Capri Sun contains no preservatives, which means mold can in fact grow if there are any breaches in the packaging, even a pinhole sized opening.
The Photo
The photo (right) of a glass containing a murky, moldy Capri Sun mixture is what has fueled the latest controversy regarding mold in the juice pouches when it was posted earlier this week. Others have posted similar photos on the Capri Sun Facebook page. The photo has been circulated with the following caption:
WARNING TO ALL PARENTS: my friend Jennifer gave her son a capri sun Saturday and he told her it tasted funny. She took a sip and said it tasted like straight alcohol. Cut it open and it was nothing but mold inside. Evidently, this happens a lot. They say the lack of preservatives leaves them susceptible to fermentation. I will never let Delo drink another. FYI: this pouch expires April 2013 and we don’t own a delorian to go “back to the future” so it wasn’t expired. 
God bless, have a great day!
Official Response
The Capri Sun Facebook page has been a hotbed of discussion on the topic. To their credit, Kraft – the distributor of Capri Sun – and the Capri Sun admins have been available to discussion on the matter. They have not denied that mold can grow in the pouches in certain circumstances, though they claim it is a rare occurrence. They address it on their website FAQ, and posted a response to the topic on Facebook:
We’ve noticed that there has been loads of discussion on Facebook around a photo of a Capri Sun pouch containing mold. The safety of our products and well-being of our consumers are our top priorities, and we appreciate your openness and the concerns that have been expressed here on our page. We feel it is important that you have the most accurate and up-to-date information from us.
While we have not had the opportunity to examine the affected product, the substance appears to be mold. When we have had the chance to have an independent lab analyze a sample in the past, it was confirmed to be similar to common bread mold. Among the many, many millions of pouches we sell each year, it does happen from time to time because the product is preservative free. A statement is included on all cartons telling consumers to discard any leaking or damaged packages. If mold does occur, we completely agree that it can be unsightly and gross, but it is not harmful and is more of a quality issue rather than a safety issue.
We regularly check our quality control records, product samples and recent consumer contacts for issues or patterns and we don’t see anything that indicates this is a broader problem. In regard to the use of clear pouches, we have tried that but found that combining two different packaging materials (front and back) created manufacturing problems. We welcome open feedback, as many of us are parents too, and care deeply about what our kids and your kids drink.
While we hope this as help answer some of your most pressing concerns, we invite you to visit our FAQ tab here for more information: http://on.fb.me/WsAyCQ
Facebook Outrage
The response above hasn’t been enough for some people, who have taken to Facebook to lambaste the company. Their statement that the mold wasn’t harmful to ingest may be true, but it hasn’t sat well with some, who believe this represents a dismissive attitude.
Worms
Some have claimed to have found worms in Capri Sun packaging, but most agree that this was probably mold in the shape of the straw, which would in fact take on a worm-like appearance.
Earlier Stories
The 2013 “outbreak” of Capri Sun mold stories is not the first time the problem has come to light.
- February 2012: A CBS affiliate in Philadelphia reported that a local mom was raising awareness of the mold problem when her daughter’s Capri Sun contained mold, and the pouch showed no leakage or holes.
- June 2012: Here is a rather extensive Capri Sun mold story from June 21, 2010 in the LA Times, in which a nearly identical situation is described.
- 2008: The issue was brought up in this Yahoo answers question.
Bottom Line
Mold in Capri Sun juice pouches is possible, and the company admits that to be the case. Those pouches which show obvious signs of damage, puncture, or leakage are most likely to be affected. If you are worried about pouches in your home, the best thing to do is cut them open and pour them into a clear glass. This of course defeats the purpose of having a handy, portable juice pouch.
Filed under: Hoaxes & Rumors
How about consumers checking the juice bag’s date before buying one that expires in a week or two? Or stop keeping stockpiles of Capri Sun; I don’t care if they were on sale 6 months ago for 1/2 price and you bought a 2 year supply. Buy what you’ll use in a reasonable time. How do we know these moldy juices weren’t improperly stored? Left in the back of soccer mom’s minivan/suv for hours, in the sun, and then refrigerated? I need more info before screaming, “Ban Capri Sun Juice Bags!”
Oh sure…. you mean check the dates like this woman done….. yeah that will deter the problem…. smdh
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200414310017441&set=a.2007474263624.2120097.1146715360&type=1&theater
It cant be mold in the shape of the straw because the straw is sealed on the outside of the pouch.The facts are all turning up its worms! NASTY!!! FLESHY!!! WORMS!!!!!!!!
The worms are real!
why doesn’t Kraft just make the pouches clear in the back to solve all these problems,if you can see whats in the package beforehand there are less likely to be incidents of children drinking bad products
They said that “In regard to the use of clear pouches, we have tried that but found that combining two different packaging materials (front and back) created manufacturing problems.” It would seem based on the current PR disaster that they might want to revisit this option.
@scatman i understand there may be other factors to what may have really happened however do you honestly think its a good idea to keep giving these drinks to kids if there is any remote chance that this is true. I have two kids and one on the way and I have completely stopped giving these to my children there are other juice options for children to drink. not only has there been reports of mold but there have also been reports of worms and other insects coming out of these drinks sorry but i will never give another one of these to my kids again im not one of those over protective mothers but when it comes to my kids health drinking mold and worms concerns me as a health risk!!!!!
Seriously? This is not new by any means and if the product is so disgusting, don’t buy it! Let’s see – no chemical preservatives and a shorter shelf life because of this. Why not either keep it shorter periods of time OR maybe, buy something else? It appears the social media sites are a hot bed for people trying to get their 15 minutes….. And so far, not one person has a package with a confirmed “worm” in it do they? NO???? That’s what I thought you said….. These same people continue to stuff their kids on junk fast food, products with GMO’s, artificial sweeteners & preservatives (that were NEVER intended to be consumed by humans), and other such anomalies and then scream over a literally harmless mold known about for years?????? These complaints are further evidence they need a cranial rectal inversion procedure.
Why not just make the bottom panel clear?
They addressed this: “In regard to the use of clear pouches, we have tried that but found that combining two different packaging materials (front and back) created manufacturing problems.”
We agree with you that they should probably re-visit this idea.
I love how people want all natural products that don’t contain preservatives or extraneous chemicals then complain when things like this happen.
That’s actually a good point that hasn’t been brought up. “No preservatives” is usually advertised as a good thing.
THERES ALWAYS WATER! It is better for you nothing to make it, cost nothing and there is nothing in it and if your really all that stubborn about tap water you can always boil it to male sure THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN IT refrigerate wash jug and repeat. What’s more simple. My son wants fruit juice. He grabs the juicer and makes TRULY 100% JUCIE nothing added.
so everyone keeps suggesting a clear back and its been shot down due to mixing materials-so here’s a thought—- MAKE THE WHOLE POUCH CLEAR!! you can print on clear plastic. veggie companies do it all the time!
Good idea. They haven’t addressed the idea an entirely clear pouch yet but maybe they should!
And the scary part to that idea is I never went to college! I’m sure they have hundreds that work for them that have associates, bachelors, engineering, dietary, and a whole load of other assorted degrees hanging on their walls, yet it takes a stiff with a public high school diploma to come up with that. Incredible!
The worms are in fact real. I caught the biggest rainbow trout of my life with one. Oh boy you bet she gave me fight, but I tired her out after 45 minutes. Trout don’t eat mold people Trout eat worms. Let me tell yall a story here now one day off of my boat i was fishin and got a hankering for one of them sippy pouchers and took a sip and no juice was coming out so i took the straw out and a worm parasite came oozin on outa there like a duck in a burnin bungaloo any way folks never buy capri sun they are the devil -shmidty jones out
I think that is absolutely gross! I always drink Capri Suns and then I started to drink kool-aid jammers. I was at school and i was drinking a kool aid jammers and my friend said don’t drink that. I asked why and she told me about the capri sun mold and “worms” problem. So then I told her it wasn’t a capri sun. I went to the store and they where still selling them. Once my cousin was drinking one and she looked on the box and it was EXPIRED!!! And her mom had just bought it the day before!!(im 12 yrs old BTW). Im surprised nobody has sued them yet. Like really….you could at least make the pouch clear…..
Clear pouches, figuring a different self life… Boom, problem solved. Although that’s disgusting as hell, and I wouldn’t probably risk it. WATER!
Capri Suns DO have mold in them. I know because my friend had just drank a Capri Sun and then got sick to her stomach. Right after she drank it and got sick,she went to the nurse. I was going to ask the nurse to cut open her Capri Sun pouch but I didn’t. She walked in the nurses office and was very pale. She went home from school. All of a sudden I realized that there was something in her juice box!
Yes, it’s true, the worms are real. My friend and I were drinking a couple of Capri Suns at my house, (My mom always buys them for my brother) when suddenly she ran over to the kitchen sink and spit it all out. The worm was about five inches long, and white in colour. It was horrific. I made sure my mom got rid of the juice pouches and she hasn’t bought them since. I recommend sticking to water.