Some coffee drinkers may need to check their McCafé Premium Roast Decaf Coffee K-Cup Pods after over 80,000 pods were recalled because they were mislabeled as decaffeinated instead of caffeinated, according to an updated classification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier in January.
Why were the Keurig coffee pods recalled?
Keurig Dr. Pepper voluntarily initiated the recall on Dec. 6, pulling around 960 cartons of the affected K-Cup coffee pods due to mislabeling that could pose serious health risks to those who cannot have caffeine, according to Allrecipes.com, Delish.com and a notice from the federal agency.
The FDA confirmed on Jan. 23 that the coffee pods were listed as a Class II recall, “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote,” according to its website.
A report from the American Medical Association states that caffeine is a chemical stimulant “that can be found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao beans, guarana berries and yerba mate leaves and quickly boosts alertness and energy levels.” However, too much of it can cause health issues like increased blood pressure and heart rate, and it can interference with certain medications, insomnia, anxiety, headaches and more.
Details consumers should know about the recalled coffee pods
The McCafé Premium Roast Decaf Coffee K-Cup Pods were recalled due to mislabeling. The product, distributed by Keurig Green Mountain Inc. of Burlington, Massachusetts, is packaged in 84-count cartons with a net weight of 29 ounces (823 grams) and the UPC 043000073438, according to the FDA notice.
The recall affects 960 cartons, each containing 84 pods, with lot codes LA hh:mm PL070 5321 or 5322 and batch number 5101564894. The affected pods are labeled as decaffeinated but may contain caffeine, posing a risk for sensitive consumers.
Consumers should check the “best by” date, which is Nov. 17, 2026, and avoid using any K-Cups that match the listed lot codes and batch numbers.
The affected coffee items were distrubuted in three states: California, Indiana and Nevada.
What did the Keurig Dr. Pepper spokesperson say about the recall?
“At Keurig Dr Pepper, we are committed to the highest standards of safety and quality in the products we produce and distribute. In cooperation with the FDA, we initiated a voluntary recall of a limited number of 84-count boxes of McCafe Premium Roast Decaf coffee K-Cup pods, sold through a single retail partner, as the coffee may contain regular caffeinated coffee,” a Keurig Dr. Pepper spokesperson said in a statement, according to Delish.com.
“All consumers who purchased this product were notified directly by the retailer a little more than a month ago and provided with next steps regarding replacement product. All impacted product remaining with the retailer has been returned to us.”
Consumers are also encouraged to dispose of the products or return them for a refund or a replacement.