Coffee Shops Alert! OATLY Recalls 12 Batches of Oat Milk from Chinese Market!

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OATLY Issues Preventive Recall in Chinese Market

Yesterday, OATLY released an announcement on its official WeChat account regarding the preventive recall of Oat Drink Deluxe (OATLY Original Rich Oat Milk) 330ml products in the Chinese market.

Background of the Recall

The announcement stated that on July 28th, one of OATLY's American production partners, Lyons Magnus LLC., issued a recall announcement for 53 different brands of beverages and nutritional products due to concerns about potential microbial contamination in their production lines. This included multiple batches of OATLY oat milk, chocolate oat milk, and the "Coffee Master" series oat milk products.

The reason for the recall of these 53 products is that they did not meet commercial sterility standards and may pose risks of microbial contamination, including Cronobacter sakazakii and Clostridium botulinum. However, Clostridium botulinum has not yet been found in the products. Consumers are advised not to consume any recalled batch products, even if they appear or smell normal.

Expansion of the Recall

Until August 16th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an expanded recall announcement from Lyons Magnus, adding more than 30 additional nutritional and beverage products to the recall list.

Situation in the Chinese Market

The Oat Drink Deluxe 330ml sold in the Chinese market is produced by the relevant company. Although the batch numbers are not on the recall list published by Lyons Magnus in the United States, the above products were also tested according to regulations when imported and complied with relevant laws. After the production company issued the announcement, OATLY immediately sent products produced by this company to nationally recognized laboratories for testing. The results showed no microbial contamination was found in the Oat Drink Deluxe 330ml.

Out of safety considerations, OATLY China announced on August 19th the recall of 12 batches of Oat Drink Deluxe 330ml products with the following production dates:

Consumer Reactions

After the announcement was released, some netizens immediately expressed concern about what to do if they had already consumed the product. OATLY responded that all OATLY products in the Chinese market have passed import inspection, are safe, and comply with relevant regulations, asking consumers to rest assured.

Controversy Over the Recall

Regarding the sudden recall of products that showed no issues, some netizens believe that since there are no problems in the domestic market, there is no need to recall the products, which would cause public anxiety about food safety.

When OATLY oat milk was announced for recall in the United States, the customer service of OATLY's official flagship store also stated that the product had not been introduced in China, asking consumers to choose with confidence. This time, they stated that a product in the Chinese market was produced by the company involved, but was not among the batches recalled in the US market. Although they indicated that the product had been sent for testing and no microbial contamination was found, they did not publish the test report.

Consumer Concerns

Domestic consumers remain skeptical about the product recall and are concerned about potential health problems after consumption.

OATLY's Rise in Popularity

OATLY oat milk gained widespread attention because in 2020, Starbucks China introduced oat lattes under the theme of "Starbucks Foodism," and oat milk instantly became synonymous with healthy new dietary choices. Subsequently, coffee shops of all sizes in China gradually began offering oat milk options, thus gaining attention from many consumers.

Nutritional Comparison

Many consumers believe that oats are rich in dietary fiber, which can maintain the balance of gut microbiota, inhibit the body's absorption of cholesterol, and accelerate cholesterol metabolism. Compared to milk, oat milk contains no milk fat or lactose, which can reduce the risk of obesity.

Nutritional comparison per 240ml:

• Whole milk: Fat 8g, Protein 8g, Fiber NA, Sugar 11g
• Soy milk: Fat 4.5g, Protein 8g, Fiber 2g, Sugar 6g
• Oat milk: Fat 7g, Protein 3g, Fiber 3g, Sugar 7g
• Almond milk: Fat 2.5g, Protein 1g, Fiber <1g, Sugar 7g

(This data is not specific to any particular brand of milk and plant-based milk)

Considerations About Oat Milk

However, compared to other plant-based milks (soy milk, almond milk), oat milk does not have the lowest fat content (because it requires the addition of vegetable oil to adjust texture), with its fat content second only to whole milk. Therefore, one cannot consume large amounts simply because it lacks milk fat and lactose.

Every beverage has its pros and cons, and one should not overlook the actual ingredients just because it appears healthy on the surface.

Image source: Weibo, Internet

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