Coffee products that were recalled over potential deadly bacteria could cause ‘serious adverse health consequences,’ officials warn.
Last month, Wisconsin-based Snapchill LLC voluntarily recalled more than 250 of its canned coffee products over fears of botulism, a rare food-borne pathogen that attacks the body’s nerves.
The FDA, which had flagged issues with the company’s canning methods, has now given the recall a Class II classification.
This is ‘a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.’
No illnesses have been reported to date.
Snapchill LLC, which makes a variety of canned coffee products, voluntarily recalled over 250 products over fears of botulinum contamination
The FDA has classified the recall as Class II, or ‘a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote’
The products were sold under dozens of roaster and brand names and came in a variety of sizes, ranging from seven to 12 ounces. All affected products had expiration dates between June 16, 2024, and April 16, 2025.
The recall includes nearly 550,000 cans, which were distributed throughout the US and Canada, according to the FDA.
A Class II recall is the agencies second-worst classification. Class I recalls involve products in which ‘there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.’
Botulism is caused by a toxin released by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which is normally found in spores in soil, marine areas, and on the surface of foods like fruits, vegetables, and seafood.
These bacteria make spores, which act like protective coatings, which are usually harmless.
However, warm and wet tight spaces lacking oxygen – such as metal cans or plastic jars – can cause the bacteria to release toxins that attack the central nervous system.
The bacteria thrives in canned foods because the canning process forces air out of the food, creating a favorable environment for C. botulinum to grow.
The FDA reportedly cautioned the coffee company after finding that it violated regulations by failing to notify the agency it was using a low-acid canning method.
‘Snapchill has provided a wide range of roasters nationwide with “Snapchill” cold coffee since 2019, without any known consumer cases of botulis, a company spokesperson told Newsweek.
The CDC estimates there are just 200 cases of botulism in the US every year, and just 25 are from food, making it vanishingly rare. Other causes include infections and, rarely, injecting too much botulinum toxin used in Botox.
Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids, blurry vision, slurred speech, difficulty breathing, and trouble moving the eyes.
Botulism can be fatal in about five to 10 percent of cases. The condition is treated with antitoxins.
