KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Unregistered alcohol-filled bottles from a mid-Missouri winery may be prone to exploding, the state’s Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control warned Thursday in a press release.
The ATC began investigating Casa de Loco winery in Eldon, Missouri, for distributing unregistered wine products, which were discovered during routine retail inspections.
One of the bottles of wine exploded in the ATC’s evidence storage facility. Further investigation revealed that some retailers also had experienced explosions or “Casa de Loco wine bottles spontaneously breaking and leaking,” the ATC said.
Missouri Department of Public Safety Communications Director Mike O’Connell said the threat posed to the public, if anyone already has purchased a bottle of the unregistered Casa de Loco wine, prompted the release.
Products sold under the label Applesauced, Bellini Gold, Coming in Hot, Kona Lover Port, OCD, and Peachy Thoughts are considered dangerous and should be handled with care.
The ATC is aware of distribution to retailers in St. Joseph, Camdenton, Warsaw, Glasgow, Keytesville, Lebanon, Newburg, Osage Beach, Salisbury, St. Robert, Stoutland, Sunrise Beach and Wright City.
“We are continuing to investigate,” ATC State Supervisor Dorothy Taylor said. “However, it’s important that anyone who has these unregistered Casa de Loco products take immediate action to prevent injury. We ask that any consumer or retailer who has a bottle of the six affected Casa de Loco wines call our offices and report when and where they purchased the wine. The number to call is (573) 751-2964.”
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services also is investigating the Casa de Loco winery for “potential health and sanitation violations.” DHSS also has contacted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Meanwhile, the ATC also is working with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, a section of the U.S. Department of the Treasury that regulates and collects taxes on alcoholic products.
Retailers are advised to remove any unregistered Casa de Loco products from shelves and secure the potentially hazardous bottles.
Casa de Loco, which is located about 40 miles southwest of Jefferson City, may face action from federal and state regulators,
There aren’t any documented reports of injury associated with exploding or breaking wine bottles.
