• Ground coffee is being recalled and classified as Class II by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  • The classification was in response to the mislabeling of coffee as decaf.
  • Improperly labeled coffee can pose health risks to those who avoid caffeine for medical reasons.

Coffee creamer was recently recalled, but now it’s time to check your beans. Our Family ground coffee has been recalled and classified as Class II by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That means the recalled product could “cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences” or increase “the probability of serious adverse health consequences,” according to the agency. The reason for the recall is that the coffee was mislabeled as decaf.

On March 13, Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA initiated the recall of 692 cases of, specifically, Our Family Traverse City Cherry Decaf Light Roast ground coffee because a portion of the lot’s contents was mislabeled as decaf when some actually contained caffeinated grounds.

As you can probably imagine, drinking a cup or two of coffee, assuming it’s decaf, will, at the very least, bring an unexpected burst of energy. At worst, though, it could cause distressing symptoms in people who avoid caffeine for medical reasons like pregnant or breastfeeding people, people with heart conditions, or people who struggle with insomnia. In those cases, caffeinated drinks could cause heart palpitations, high blood pressure, anxiety, nausea, headache, and sleep disruptions, according to the FDA.

Coffee recall details

The coffee was recalled in 15 states and sold at various retailers, the My Family brand being a common store brand throughout the Midwest. The states affected are Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The 12-ounce coffee bags were distributed by SpartanNash Company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, feature the UPC code 0 70253 11080 1, and are marked with “BEST BEFORE 080325 V 15:37 C.”

There are no formal instructions regarding what to do if you have the recalled product, but standard protocol is to either throw it away or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

It’s worth noting that even decaffeinated products are not fully caffeine-free, but simply contain less caffeine than their regular counterparts, according to the FDA. “If you react strongly to caffeine in a negative way,” the FDA says, “you may want to avoid these beverages altogether.” Any caffeine-related health concerns should be discussed with your health care provider.