Inside Critical Nationwide Coffee Recall and the FDA’s Warning of Fatal Food Poisoning

Louisa Marshall

June 28, 2024 at 9:53 PM·3 min read

Few things stand between a coffee drinker and their beloved cup o’ Joe, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a critical, nationwide recall on almost 300 kinds of canned coffee products due to concerns of fatal food poisoning. Keep scrolling to learn about the recall, manufacturer Snapchill LLC and see the full list of recalled items.

What is the nationwide canned coffee recall?

The nationwide canned coffee recall was prompted by Snapchill LLC, with the manufacturer voluntarily ringing the alarm bells after it was learned their production process could result in potentially fatal food poisoning known as Botulism. Snapchill was notified of the dangerous news after the FDA discovered the low acid manufacturing process was not filed with the administration, as required by FDA regulations.

The FDA alerted the company that their process “could lead to the growth and production of the deadly toxin, botulinum toxin, in low acid canned foods.” The growth of botulinum toxin can result in Botulism.

What is Botulism?

Though rare, Botulism is a severe illness that can cause difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis and in some cases death. Symptoms – which can manifest between four hours and eight days after consumption – can include dizziness, muscle weakness, constipation, abdominal swelling, trouble speaking and swallowing and general weakness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Botulism is broken down into five main kinds – foodborne, wound, infant, Iatrogenic and adult intestinal toxemia – and all should be treated as medical emergencies. Foodborne Botulism, the kind most likely tied to the coffee recall, can result from canned goods not being properly “preserved, or fermented. Though uncommon, store-bought foods also can be contaminated with botulinum toxin,” the CDC notes.

Snapchill’s response to the canned coffee recall

Canned coffee products manufactured by Snapchill were sent out across the United States through a variety of retailers, direct consumer sales online and coffee roasters. No reported illnesses have been brought to light amid the recall news as of publication. The manufacturer, however, did respond to the severity of the recall.

“Snapchill is working on filing the appropriate notification with FDA,” the company stated in the wake of the news. In a separate statement, Snapchill added, “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or concern this recall may cause. We are working with the FDA on solutions to restart production within standards.”

Inside Snapchill Coffee and their production

Snapchill Coffee is known for its innovative approach to cold canned coffee, and has whipped up a number of loyal fans in the process. Rather than heating the coffee – like many traditional roasters do – Snapchill chills the favorite beverage, maintaining and improving flavor.

How to recognize recalled canned coffee products

You may be wondering how to recognize recalled canned coffee products, given that the manufacturer behind the high-risk coffee contributes to a variety of roasters and brand names. Look at your products and identify languages including, “Produced and distributed by Snapchill LLC.”

If your canned coffee does include Snapchill manufacturing language – or your product appears on the aforementioned link – the FDA recommends destroying the coffee or returning it to where you purchased it for a full refund.