Texas teen busted for spitting into Arizona Tea bottle, putting it back

A Texas teen was busted for spitting into a bottle of Arizona Tea at a local grocery store — and then placing the tainted drink back on the shelf, according to a new report.

Cops were dispatched Monday night to the Albertsons Market in Odessa, where they viewed security camera footage showing the boy picking up the drink, putting his mouth on it and then putting it back, CBS 7 reported.

The teen confessed to the store’s asset protection manager and police that he took a swig of the beverage, spit in it and then put it back because it was “gross,” according to the report.

He’s been charged with tampering with a consumer product — a second-degree felony — and is being held at the Ector County Youth Center, according to the report.

United Family, which operates the Albertsons Market, said in a statement issued to local outlet NewsWest 9 that it takes “the safety of our guests and the integrity of our products very seriously.”

“The product tampering on Monday was the first incident reported in our company and came with second-degree felony charges against the juvenile accused of this crime,” said Nancy Sharp, the company’s communications and community engagement manager. “We appreciate the vigilance of our asset protection team. Anyone caught tampering with products in our stores will be reported to the police for prosecution.”

Sharp also reminded customers to check their products to ensure that safety seals are intact.

In another recent Texas tampering incident, a teen was busted after she licked a tub of Blue Bell ice cream and put it back on the shelf. Video of the sick prank went viral.