Coffee lovers, it’s time to double-check your morning brew! On March 25, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Class II recall for certain coffee products from Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA. The recall affects coffee sold under the “Our Family” brand, and it’s all due to a mislabeling issue.

The recall was triggered after a portion of Our Family Traverse City Cherry-Flavored Decaf Light Roast Ground Coffee was mislabelled as decaffeinated. The product, which comes in 12-ounce bags with a best-buy date of August 8, 2025, had the wrong label, causing confusion about its caffeine content.

Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, the company behind the coffee, voluntarily initiated the recall on March 13. As of now, the recall remains active, and the company has yet to provide a resolution.

This recall is classified as a Class II risk by the FDA. While the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences if consumed, the chances of serious harm are minimal. However, for individuals who are sensitive to caffeine or need to avoid it for health reasons, it’s best to return or dispose of the product.

The recall affects 692 cases of the mislabeled coffee, which were distributed across 15 states:

• Colorado
• Iowa
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• Minnesota
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Nebraska
• Ohio
• South Dakota
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

If you have purchased this product in any of these states, be sure to check the packaging to see if your coffee is part of the recall.

If you have a bag of the affected coffee, you should stop using it immediately. You can return it to the store for a refund or dispose of it according to the FDA’s guidelines.

The company, Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, has yet to comment on the recall request from PEOPLE.

This is not the only coffee-related recall this year. Earlier this month, the FDA issued a recall for over 75,000 bottles of two International Delight Coffee Creamers. The recall followed complaints of spoilage and illness linked to a texture issue in the creamers, though no food safety concerns were reported. Like the coffee recall, this was also classified as a Class II risk.

Danone, LLC, the parent company of International Delight, stated that the spoilage issue was caused by premature product deterioration and emphasized that the risk to consumers was minimal. Still, they opted for a voluntary recall to address the quality concern.

It’s been a year of recalls, with several food and beverage products affected, including:

• Dark chocolate products from Cal Yee Farms
• Baked goods from one of Dunkin’s vendors
• Cheese from Aldi
• Coca-Cola soda packs

These recalls highlight the ongoing effort by companies and the FDA to ensure consumer safety, even when risks are low.

While this recall is mostly about a mislabeling error, it’s a good reminder to always stay up to date on food recalls, especially if you’re sensitive to certain ingredients or caffeine. If you’re in one of the affected states and have purchased the recalled coffee, make sure to check the label and take action if necessary.

In the meantime, coffee lovers can breathe easy knowing that while this may be an inconvenience, the risk to health is low. Keep an eye out for more recall updates as the year progresses.

Source: People – FDA Issues Recall for Coffee Grounds in 15 States

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A Mother’s Heartbreaking Story

At just 18 days old, Theto Ngobeni underwent her first operation to insert a shunt in her brain, a procedure necessitated by hydrocephalus, a condition caused by a listeriosis infection her mother contracted during pregnancy. Now seven years old, Theto has endured six surgeries to replace her shunt due to blockages and infections.

Her family has paid a heavy price. The mounting medical bills depleted their insurance, forcing them to sell their home and face ongoing debts.

“We still owe the hospital and the bank a lot of money,” says Theto’s mother, Montlha, who also had to undergo a double hip replacement at just 37 due to the same listeriosis infection. “It’s very difficult, and we are on our own. No one is helping us.”

The Devastating Impact of Listeriosis

Listeriosis, caused by listeria bacteria, is a foodborne disease that disproportionately affects vulnerable groups like infants, the elderly, and pregnant women. Pregnant women can pass the infection to their unborn children, potentially leading to severe brain, kidney, or heart issues.

From January 2017 to mid-2018, South Africa experienced the largest recorded listeriosis outbreak in the world, with over 1,000 people infected. Tragically, at least 216 people lost their lives, including 93 newborns and nine children aged 14 and under, according to the South African Department of Health.

Infants exposed in utero, like Theto, now live with lifelong health challenges such as cerebral palsy and other neurological complications.

The Link to Contaminated Foods

In March 2018, South African health officials traced the outbreak to ready-to-eat meat products, mainly polony, produced at Enterprise Foods, a subsidiary of Tiger Brands, the nation’s largest food producer. The contaminated products, likely sold for over a year, were manufactured at a facility in Polokwane.

Tiger Brands temporarily closed three facilities, including Polokwane, Germiston, and Pretoria, and recalled its ready-to-eat meats. The company promised to address “valid claims” but denied liability.

Seven Years, No Resolution

Despite compelling evidence linking Tiger Brands to the outbreak, a class-action lawsuit representing Montlha and over 1,000 plaintiffs remains unresolved nearly seven years later.

The plaintiffs argue they contracted listeriosis and suffered harm due to contaminated Tiger Brands products. However, the company maintains that “liability has not yet been determined.”

“While the legal process has been long and arduous, we remain committed to resolving the listeriosis class-action lawsuit as soon as possible, particularly for the victims,” Tiger Brands told CNN.

Thami Malusi, a senior associate at Richard Spoor Incorporated Attorneys (RSI), the firm representing the plaintiffs, is optimistic the case could go to trial this year. Settlement talks are progressing, but RSI continues to prepare for trial.

Global Comparisons: Justice Delayed in South Africa

For context, a 2022 listeriosis outbreak in the United States linked to deli meats sickened 61 people and caused 10 deaths. Boar’s Head, the brand responsible, has already begun facing lawsuits and issuing apologies.

Bill Marler, a renowned foodborne illness attorney, believes that if the South African outbreak had occurred in the US, damages could have reached $1–2 billion. In South Africa, Tiger Brands could face significantly less: around 2 billion rand ($106 million).

“It was clear in 2018 that the cause was the Tiger Brands plant and its polony,” Marler said. “Seven years later, victims still have nothing. That’s a travesty.”

The Evidence Against Tiger Brands

The case hinges on genetic testing from South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). Using whole genome sequencing, NICD identified the outbreak strain in Enterprise Foods’ products and Polokwane factory, matching it to most infected patients.

“This is like DNA fingerprinting,” explained Dr. Juno Thomas of NICD. “We compared bacteria from patients, food, and the factory and found conclusive matches.”

Tiger Brands’ own tests corroborated these findings. Still, the company has accused NICD of withholding data, which it claims has delayed resolution. RSI disputes this, asserting that all necessary evidence has been provided.

“Tiger Brands could have settled long ago,” Malusi said. “Instead, they’ve been obstructive.”

Calls for Accountability

Victims continue to plead for Tiger Brands to take responsibility.

“Our innocent kids are struggling because of something they didn’t even eat,” said Montlha. “Tiger Brands owes us an apology and compensation.”

Nthabiseng Ramanamane, another plaintiff, contracted listeriosis during pregnancy, allegedly after eating contaminated polony. Her son, Onkarabile, was born two months premature with cerebral palsy.

Now seven, Onkarabile requires constant care, special diets, and cannot perform basic tasks. “I trusted their products. I thought they were safe,” Ramanamane said. “Now my son’s life has been stolen, and my own is in ruins.”

Final Plea

As the lawsuit drags on, victims like Montlha and Ramanamane live with the daily consequences of an avoidable tragedy. They want Tiger Brands to “do the right thing.”

“It’s time for them to show remorse, take accountability, and provide justice for the families they’ve devastated,” said Ramanamane.

A Call for Change

This case has become a grim reminder of the importance of food safety and corporate accountability. For families like Theto’s and Onkarabile’s, justice is long overdue. Their fight is not just about compensation—it’s about acknowledgment, responsibility, and ensuring such negligence never happens again.

Source

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced updated rules for labeling foods as “healthy,” marking the first significant changes in 30 years. Under these new guidelines, foods must meet stricter requirements for saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars to qualify for the “healthy” label. In addition, these foods must contain nutrients from key food groups like fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy, as outlined in the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

What’s Changing?

Certain foods that once carried the “healthy” label will no longer qualify. For example, white bread, heavily sweetened cereals, and sugary yogurt will no longer meet the new criteria. However, healthier options like nuts, seeds, salmon, olive oil, some peanut butters, and canned fruits and vegetables will now be able to use the label.

The FDA says these updates are in line with the latest nutritional science and will help consumers make more informed food choices, ultimately promoting better health.

Why This Matters

FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf emphasized the importance of these changes, stating, “It’s critical for the future of our country that food be a vehicle for wellness. Improving access to nutrition information is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake to help people build healthy eating patterns.”

The new standards come at a time when most Americans’ diets exceed recommended levels for saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium, and fall short on fruits and vegetables. The FDA also noted that diet-related diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of illness and death in the U.S., contributing to the country’s lower life expectancy compared to other high-income nations.

Impact on Food Manufacturers and Consumers

The “healthy” label will be voluntary for food manufacturers. Those products that meet the new requirements will be able to carry the label starting early next year, while others will have three years to make adjustments.

Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, noted that the new rules could encourage food manufacturers to reformulate their products to meet the updated standards, ultimately leading to a healthier food supply.

In addition to the “healthy” label, the FDA is working on a symbol to help consumers quickly identify foods that meet these new standards. The agency is also exploring a front-of-package nutrition labeling system, which would provide consumers with at-a-glance information about a product’s nutritional value.

Industry and Public Health Support

Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, praised the updated guidelines, saying they would help consumers feel more confident when choosing healthier foods. However, she also emphasized the need for more comprehensive front-of-package nutrition labels to provide additional clarity for shoppers.

“The FDA’s work on front-of-pack nutrition labeling is so important,” she said. “A system based on the best available science would help consumers quickly identify healthier options.”

These new standards and labeling initiatives are part of a broader strategy outlined by the Biden Administration to improve national nutrition, announced at the 2022 Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

Looking Ahead

With these changes, the FDA hopes to inspire food manufacturers to develop healthier products while giving consumers the tools to make better choices for their health. As the rules are implemented, the hope is that they will lead to a broader shift toward more nutritious diets across the country.

Source

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Several experts emphasize that they generally avoid certain raw fruits and vegetables prone to contamination, including sprouts, bagged salad greens, and cantaloupe. Federal officials investigating the recent outbreak suspect it may have originated from prewashed, slivered onions served raw on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.

Rutgers University food science professor Don Schaffner explains that every step of handling and processing food—from slicing to prewashing—increases the chances of bacterial contamination. “The more manipulation you do, the more potential there is for bacteria,” Schaffner says. Raw fruits and vegetables, which aren’t cooked to kill bacteria, have been implicated in past E. coli outbreaks, such as a 2006 outbreak linked to packaged spinach and various cases linked to sprouts and cantaloupe.

Darin Detwiler, a professor at Northeastern University specializing in food regulatory policy, notes that E. coli outbreaks are often associated with produce. Meat outbreaks have declined over the decades due to stricter regulations and better cooking standards.

Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, advises against bagged greens and sprouts. She prefers to buy whole heads of lettuce and remove any torn or damaged leaves, thoroughly washing and drying them with clean paper towels. “Friction from drying helps remove bacteria,” she says.

Sprouts present a specific risk due to warm conditions that promote bacterial growth during sprouting, says Schaffner. Cut melons, especially cantaloupe with its bacteria-trapping rind, are also a high risk. Detwiler emphasizes that cantaloupe’s pH makes it particularly prone to contamination, and its rough rind is difficult to clean effectively.

E. coli spreads from animal or human waste, contaminating food and water. While agriculture improvements have helped, E. coli remains a risk, especially for vulnerable groups like young children, seniors, and people with compromised immune systems.

Kali Kniel, professor of microbial food safety at the University of Delaware, highlights E. coli’s low infectious dose, noting that only a few cells can make someone very ill. Many experts also avoid undercooked meat, poultry, fish, and eggs, as well as unpasteurized milk.

When dining out, food safety experts recommend checking for cleanliness cues. Detwiler, for example, judges a restaurant’s hygiene by inspecting the restroom first. However, fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s generally maintain stringent food safety protocols, according to Detwiler, who says the chain has “a long history of food safety leadership.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that raw onions have not previously been linked to this particular strain of E. coli, though onions have caused salmonella outbreaks in recent years. Experts anticipate food safety measures will continue to improve as a result of this outbreak.

Schaffner acknowledges that completely avoiding foodborne illnesses is impossible. “If you stopped eating foods linked to outbreaks, you’d have little left to eat,” he adds. “Not eating still carries more risks than eating.”

 Source

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