What You Need To Know About The Major Nutritional Beverage Recall
Have you purchased any plant-based milks — including Oatly — vegan protein drinks, Stumptown cold brew coffee, or packaged nutritional drinks recently? If so, you're going to want to do an inventory of your refrigerator and cupboard. On July 28, 2022, the packaged beverage giant Lyons Magnus issued a huge voluntary recall of a wide variety of packaged health and protein drinks due to the possible presence of Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria, according to a U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announcement. All in all, the recall encompasses 53 products distributed nationally, including at major chains such as Costco and Sam's Club. As noted in the announcement, Lyons Magnus issued the recall after an analysis showed that the products "did not meet commercial sterility specifications."
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Cronobacter infection can cause symptoms such as fever, weakness, and seizures, so it's a good idea to double-check and make sure any packaged beverages you've recently purchased are in the clear. Read on to get the complete list of recalled products.
Recalled drinks range from cold brew coffee to plant-based protein
If you regularly purchase cold brew coffee, vegan or regular protein drinks, or Oatly oat milk, then it's time to head to your fridge to make sure that any drinks you have on hand aren't part of the major Lyons Magnus recall announced last week. The brands included in the recall, according to the FDA, are: Lyons ReadyCare thickened nutritional beverages; Lyons Barista Style almond, coconut, and oat beverages; Pirq vegan protein shakes; Glucerna shakes made for diabetics; Aloha plant-based protein drinks; Intelligentsia and Stumptown cold brew coffee; Premier Protein drinks; MRE protein shakes; and Imperial nutritional drinks. Specific lot codes and best-by dates for the recalled items can be found on the FDA's announcement.
According to the FDA, no illnesses have been reported in relation to consuming the recalled beverages, which should be disposed of or returned to their place of purchase for a refund. Cronobacter, a bacteria you might recognize from the recent and wide-reaching infant formula recall, naturally exists in the soil, the environment, and in the human gut, as National Geographic explains. In a mature immune system, other beneficial bacteria can easily keep Cronobacter under control; it's really in the still-developing guts of babies that the bacteria poses such a huge threat. Notably, the Lyons Magnus recall doesn't include any products manufactured for children under the age of one, so that's a glimmer of good news.