The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall of hundreds of packaged coffee products made by Snapchill LLC due to concerns about botulinum toxin contamination. The company is voluntarily recalling over 250 products that were distributed nationwide to various suppliers and sold to consumers online.
Snapchill’s coffee packaging process poses a risk of toxin development and contamination by botulinum, an extremely powerful neurotoxin produced by anaerobic bacteria. This is due to the lack of information provided by the company regarding the production process of low-acid canned coffee.
Symptoms of botulinum poisoning include weakness, dizziness, double vision, bloating, discomfort, difficulty breathing, speaking, or swallowing, and can occur as soon as six hours or up to two weeks after exposure. Immediate medical attention is necessary as botulinum poisoning can be fatal if left untreated.
The FDA raised suspicions about Snapchill’s production process and lack of information provided regarding their low-acid packaged coffee after receiving reports from customers about symptoms related to their consumption of Snapchill’s coffee. However, there have been no reported cases of consumer poisoning related to their coffee.
Snapchill has stated that the recall is voluntary, and they are working to address the issues raised to ensure the safety and satisfaction of their customers. As of the latest update, there have been no reported cases of death or poisoning related to Snapchill coffee.
