If cold brew is a part of your morning ritual, you might want to check your fridge.
Brooklyn Roasting Company just pulled 3,000 gallons of its Pasteurized Cold Brew Concentrate from shelves across New Jersey and New York, after the FDA flagged a possible botulism risk.
The recall affects 1,219 units of the company’s 2.5 gallon boxed cold brew, which were distributed to stores between April 1 and June 20. Best-by dates stretch from June 3 to September 3, according to the FDA.
The culprit was identified as ambient storage, which creates conditions that allow Clostridium botulinum to thrive, producing the toxin associated with botulism.
No illnesses have been reported yet. The company says it’s recalling the units “out of an abundance of caution.”
That caution is necessary. Botulism attacks the nervous system—causing muscle weakness, trouble breathing, paralysis, and in extreme cases, death. The CDC urges those with symptoms of botulism to seek medical attention immediately.
The FDA labeled it a Class II recall. In layman’s terms: the health risk is temporary and serious harm is unlikely, though not risk-free.
Bottom Line
If you have a box of Brooklyn Roasting Company cold brew from the above dates, toss it.
Brooklyn Roasting Company sells through its own cafés, coffee shops, markets, gourmet grocers, and online through their shop. The company hasn’t said which specific stores received affected batches, so your best bet is to check the label.
If you’re wary, go with your gut and dump it down the drain.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.