Kombucha tea maker Vibranz returns to Whole Foods with new, lower-alcohol version
By APWednesday, August 4, 2010
Kombucha tea maker Vibranz returns to Whole Foods
NEW YORK — Kombucha maker Vibranz says its fermented tea is back at Whole Foods stores, marking the first return by a kombucha maker to the grocer.
Whole Foods removed the trendy tea from stores in mid-June because of concerns over slightly elevated alcohol levels.
The retailer and regulators are concerned that the tea may need to be regulated as an alcoholic drink. That’s because some bottles have more than 0.5 percent alcohol — the legal limit for a drink not to be considered alcoholic.
Vibranz says its new formula reduces alcohol levels to fall within the limits. It says it is now back in Whole Foods stores in northern California — near its headquarters — and has more orders from around the country.
Whole Foods didn’t return messages left seeking comment.
