Kombucha

Also listed as Fermented Tea Drink and Bottled Kombucha.

Beverages

This is what the ingredient is.

Kombucha is a fermented sweetened tea beverage. Labels may say kombucha.

Here is why it shows up on the label.

It is chilled and drunk as a tangy fermented tea.

Here is what food agencies say.

Kombucha falls under FDA beverage labeling rules; alcohol content must stay within limits for non-alcoholic labels.

Here is what research has found.

Over-fermentation alcohol and contamination issues have driven kombucha recalls.

Here are a few things worth knowing.

Keep refrigerated if the label requires it. Check alcohol statements.

Sources

  • FDA Food Labeling
  • USDA FSIS
  • FDA Recalls

How to read this page

We publish plain facts about this ingredient so a label is easier to read. This is not medical advice, and it is not a recommendation to buy, avoid, or use anything. For a personal health question, talk with a clinician who knows your history.

v1.0Updated 9/18/2026