Rubicon Yuzu & Pink Grapefruit Recall: Batches and Refund Steps

AG Barr has recalled specific 1-litre Rubicon Yuzu & Pink Grapefruit cartons: batches 6160, 6198, 6219 and 6257, with best-before dates from June to September 2027. They may contain sulphites that are missing from the label, posing a possible risk to people sensitive to sulphur dioxide or sulphites. The manufacturer’s notice asks customers with an affected carton not to drink it and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Checked on 8 November 2026. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued the alert on 4 November and updated its title on 5 November to clarify that the drink may contain undeclared sulphites. The alert reference is FSA-AA-51-2026.

Which Rubicon batches are recalled?

Match the flavour, carton size, batch and date together. A Rubicon logo or a similar orange-coloured pack is not enough to identify a recalled item. The table is confirmed by the FSA alert and Food Standards Scotland notice.

Where is the batch code on the carton?

The manufacturer’s original safety notice says the code is stamped on top of the carton, next to the cap. Look there before relying on the front label or a supermarket shelf description. Keep the full code and best-before date together when asking for help.

The image above is the actual point-of-sale notice linked by the FSA. Open the original PDF to enlarge the product pictures and the batch table. The grapefruit photograph at the top of this article is illustrative and does not show a recalled carton.

What should you do if your carton matches?

1. Check the four identifying details against the table: product, 1L pack size, batch code and best-before date.
2. Do not drink an affected product. The FSA particularly highlights consumers with a sensitivity to sulphur dioxide or sulphites; the manufacturer’s notice gives a do-not-consume instruction to customers who bought an affected product.
3. Return the affected carton to the retailer where you bought it for a full refund, as instructed in the recall notice.
4. For identification questions, email AG Barr at consumercare@agbarr.co.uk.

The notice does not set out a separate online refund application or a receipt requirement. If you bought the drink online, ask that retailer how to arrange the recall return. This guide cannot promise a collection service, compensation beyond the stated refund or a particular refund-processing time.

Does this affect all Rubicon drinks?

No. The manufacturer’s notice limits the action to the listed products and says other Rubicon and AG Barr products are not affected by this recall. Do not extend the warning to every flavour, can or bottle. Equally, if a code is unreadable, ask the manufacturer rather than treating that carton as definitely outside the recall.

What does “may contain undeclared sulphites” mean?

The issue is a potential sulphite presence that the label does not disclose. The authorities identify people with a sensitivity to sulphur dioxide or sulphites as the group at risk. The wording does not mean that every affected carton has been confirmed to contain sulphites, but that uncertainty is the reason for the precautionary recall.

The alert does not give consumers a visual or taste test for deciding whether a particular carton contains sulphites. Use the identifying codes and return instructions instead of judging the drink by its appearance.

A quick decision guide

Why do some pages show 4, 5 or 6 November?

The FSA states that the alert was issued on 4 November 2026 and its title was changed on 5 November. Tesco’s recall listing records the drink under 4 November. Some later reports repeat the notice on their own publication dates. A later article date does not by itself indicate that more batches have been added.

Frequently asked questions

Can I return the drink if its best-before date is still months away?

Yes: the manufacturer instructs customers to return the affected product for a full refund. The future best-before date helps identify the carton; it does not override the recall.

Does “Still Blends” on the shop listing mean a different drink?

Tesco lists the recall as Rubicon Still Blends Yuzu & Pink Grapefruit Juice Drink 1L. Compare the flavour, size and the specific codes with the official notice rather than relying only on a shortened headline.

Does the 5 November title update add extra batches?

The FSA describes that change as a clarification of the title. The four batch/date pairs shown in the official alert are reproduced above. Recheck the authority page if you read this guide after its review date.

Is fresh grapefruit included in this recall?

No. This notice identifies a manufactured 1L carton drink and specific batches. The generic fruit photograph accompanying this guide is not an image of an affected product.

For more consumer guides and explainers, visit Horus Valley in English.

Official sources

• Food Standards Agency: FSA-AA-51-2026, issued 4 November and title updated 5 November 2026
• Food Standards Scotland: Rubicon 1L carton allergy alert
• AG Barr: original consumer safety notice, linked by the FSA
• Tesco: product recall listing