The Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall for thousands of pounds of coffee distributed in 15 states due to significant mislabeling issues.
An agency report disclosed that 692 cases of Traverse City Cherry Artificially Flavored Decaf Light Roast Ground Coffee were mistakenly marked as "decaffeinated," though they contain the usual caffeine levels. Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA initiated a voluntary recall of the 12-ounce packages of incorrectly labeled product.
Before the error was caught, the coffee cases, which have six 12-ounce bags each, made their way to distribution centers and retailers in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
On March 13, the FDA announced the recall, upgrading it to a "Class II" threat level a fortnight later. This classification means that while use or exposure to the violative product may lead to temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, the chance of serious health problems is considered low.
Officials have provided details to help customers spot the recalled product, which will display a best-before date of August 3, 2025, and a UPC of 0 70253 11080 1. Additionally, the code "BEST BEFORE 080325 V 15:37 C" can be found printed on the packaging.
The FDA has clarified that products labeled as "decaffeinated" are not necessarily caffeine-free. Such coffees and teas "have less caffeine than their regular counterparts," but they "still contain some caffeine," according to the agency.
The health organization's website states, "For example, decaf coffee typically has 2 to 15 milligrams in an 8-fluid-ounce cup," It also advises, "If you react strongly to caffeine in a negative way, you may want to avoid these beverages altogether."
In a separate incident, Frito-Lay announced a recall on March 26 for a limited number of 13-ounce bags of Tostitos Cantina Traditional Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips due to the potential inclusion of nacho cheese tortilla chips, which poses a risk of an undeclared milk allergen. These affected bags were distributed to retailers and first sold on March 7 in 13 states.
The recall encompasses approximately 1,300 bags, and to date, the FDA has not reported any allergic reactions caused by the undeclared milk allergen. This issue was specific to the Cantina Traditional bags of Frito-Lay chips.
Coca-Cola has also had to recall some of its products this week due to potential plastic contamination. The beverage giant recalled 864 cases, each containing 12 cans, amounting to roughly 10,000 cans in total.
The affected cans were shipped to retailers in Illinois and Wisconsin.
