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Coffee recalled across France due to cancer concerns
Consumers are advised to stop consuming the product
Published
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Rappel Conso, the French government’s product recall website, has announced a recall of a coffee product across France after levels of a potentially harmful substance exceeded regulatory limits.
The recall concerns Perfetto Moka Caramello, made by Bialetti France and sold online by retailers Ponera and MaxiCoffee.
The voluntary recall was published on October 15 after excessive levels of ochratoxin A were found in the product.
The product has a best-before date of May 29, 2027. Its batch number is LC5 BD149T and its barcode is 8006363076203.
Not every Bialetti coffee product is affected, so consumers should check the batch number, barcode and best-before date before deciding whether to dispose of the product or return it.
What is ochratoxin A?
Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin, a substance produced naturally by certain types of mould. It can contaminate a range of foods, including cereals, dried fruit and coffee.
The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) 2020 has raised concerns about its potential carcinogenic effects on the kidneys.
What should consumers do?
Anyone who has purchased the affected batch should stop consuming it and either dispose of it or return it for a refund.
Consumers should contact Ponera or MaxiCoffee for details of how to return the product.
If you have already consumed some of the coffee, this does not necessarily mean you will become ill.
EFSA found no evidence that ochratoxin A causes immediate illness, but long-term exposure may pose health risks. The risk depends on how much is consumed and for how long.
