Americans are once again at risk from yet another oversight failure as thousands of coffee packages have been incorrectly labeled as decaffeinated across 15 states.
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) slow response to the massive recall is raising questions about consumer safety, especially for those with health conditions who count on accurate product labeling to protect themselves.
The recall affects 692 cases (4,152 packages) of Our Family-branded Traverse City Cherry ground coffee.
The products were falsely labeled as decaffeinated when they actually contained regular caffeinated coffee.
The 12-ounce packages display the UPC code 0 70253 11080 1 and are marked with “BEST BEFORE 080325 V 15:37 C.”
Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA initiated the recall earlier this month, but the FDA only recently classified it as Class II.
It took the agency nearly two weeks to act on an issue that could seriously impact Americans with health conditions.
SpartanNash Company distributed the affected products in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
For Americans with certain medical conditions, this oversight could have serious consequences.
Caffeine can interact with medications and worsen heart problems, diabetes, and osteoporosis. It can also cause complications during pregnancy, putting unborn babies at risk.
The FDA has classified this as a Class II recall, indicating it may cause temporary health consequences but is not likely to cause serious harm for most consumers.
However, for vulnerable citizens relying on accurate product information, the risks are significant.
“Decaffeinated coffees and teas have less caffeine than their regular counterparts, but still contain some caffeine,” the FDA stated.
“For example, decaf coffee typically has 2 to 15 milligrams in an 8 fluid-ounce cup. If you react strongly to caffeine in a negative way, you may want to avoid these beverages altogether,” it added.
Symptoms of excessive caffeine consumption include increased heart rate, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, jitters, upset stomach, nausea, and headaches.
These symptoms could be dangerous for Americans with existing health conditions or those taking certain medications.
Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA did not even bother to issue a public press release about the recall.
It was only listed on the FDA’s official bulletin, meaning many consumers may still be unaware they are drinking caffeinated coffee when they believe they are having decaf.
Particularly concerning is that the FDA provided no specific instructions for customers on how to handle the recalled product.
This leaves everyday Americans in the dark about whether they should return the coffee, throw it out, or seek refunds.
Our Family Foods claims on its website to be “committed to quality” with values that have “remained the same, generation after generation.”
However, this massive recall calls into question whether that commitment extends to ensuring accurate labeling that protects Americans with health concerns.
In the meantime, the recall remains ongoing, with no clear end in sight.
