Hundreds of coffee products recalled over concerns of botulism contamination

What a buzz kill.

Hundreds of canned coffee products have been recalled over concerns of botulism contamination, the Food and Drug Administration reported this week.

The products are produced by the Wisconsin-based company Snapchill LLC, which is voluntarily recalling more than 250 products that were distributed across the country to various roasters and vendors, as well as sold to consumers online.

The FDA raised concerns over the manufacturing practices of the canned coffee, telling the java company that the agency was not notified — as per regulations — of the low acid method of producing the canned goods. The manufacturing process pose a risk of the growth and contamination of the potentially fatal botulinum toxin.

Botulism, a type of food poisoning, can occur as a result of ingesting the toxin, and produce symptoms such as weakness, dizziness, double vision, abdominal distension and distress, as well as difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing, per the FDA.

Symptoms can appear in as little as six hours to as much as two weeks after exposure, and requires immediate medical attention, as botulism can be deadly if not treated.

While no illness related to the Snapchill coffee have been reported and the company is not aware of any contamination, a swath of products have still been recalled due to the potential for sickness.

The products recalled are sold in metal can sizes from 7 oz to 12 oz at a number of retail locations under various brand names. To tell whether a can of coffee has been manufactured by Snapchill, the can will read, “Produced and distributed by Snapchill LLC” under the nutrition facts panel on the packaging, per the FDA.

Customers affected by the recall should either destroy the canned goods or return them to Snapchill or wherever the products were purchased. The company is offering a refund to customers with proof or purchase and a picture of the recalled products.

A public relations rep for Snapchill told The Post: “Snapchill has provided  a wide range of roasters nationwide with “Snapchill” cold coffee since 2019, without any known consumer cases of botulism. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified Snapchill that the low acid canned foods process for manufacturing the recalled products was not filed with FDA, as is required by regulation. There is a possibility that the current manufacturing process could lead to the growth and production of the deadly toxin, botulinum toxin, in low acid canned foods. No illnesses have been reported, and Snapchill is not aware of any instances in which the company’s products contained this pathogen. Nevertheless, Snapchill is voluntarily conducting this recall  in cooperation with the FDA.”

“At Snapchill, the safety and satisfaction of our customers are our highest priorities, and we are working swiftly to resolve the issue,” they 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.”