Hundreds of canned coffee products made by Snapchill have been recalled because they may contain botulinum toxin, which can cause botulism, a deadly food-related poisoning.
The Wisconsin-based company, which makes a variety of canned coffee products, announced the voluntary recall on June 17th because its current coffee manufacturing process could lead to the growth and production of botulinum toxin in low-acid canned foods, according to a statement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Low-acid canned foods are susceptible to botulinum toxin, and the FDA noted that the company's processing steps for its low-acid canned foods had not been submitted to the FDA as required by regulation.
“No illnesses have been reported and Snapchill is not aware of any instances where our products have contained this pathogen,” Snapchill told Health in a statement. “That said, Snapchill is voluntarily conducting the recall in cooperation with the FDA. At Snapchill, the safety and satisfaction of our customers is our top priority, and we are working expeditiously to resolve the issue. We apologize for any inconvenience or concern this recall may have caused.”
According to the FDA, the canned coffee was distributed nationally through various coffee roasters and retailers and was also available for purchase on the company's website. The recalled products are sold under a variety of roasters and brand names, not all of which are under the Snapchill name. The metal cans range in size from 7 ounces to 12 ounces.
The affected cans have the words “Manufactured and sold by Snapchill LLC” beneath the Nutrition Facts label, and some have the words “Snapchill Coffee” on the label. Details of more than 200 affected products and brands are listed on the FDA's website, including Bolt Coffee, Euphoria Coffee and Madcap Coffee.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), botulism is a rare and potentially fatal form of food poisoning. It is caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum and related bacteria. The toxins attack the nerves in the body, causing a variety of severe symptoms, including difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and death.
“Spores are found in the environment, but they can be inactivated by pasteurization,” Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York, told Health. “If they are not inactivated and are placed in an environment where they can germinate, the spores can become active toxins.”
If you drink or eat the toxin, you could get sick, Russo added. Botulism “can be a fatal disease,” he said. “Obviously, if we can avoid that outcome, we want to do that.”
According to the FDA, symptoms of botulism can begin anywhere from six hours to two weeks after consuming foods containing the toxin.
If you have an affected can of coffee at home, the FDA recommends throwing it away or returning it to Snapchill or wherever you bought the coffee for a refund.
