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

OATLY Issues a Preventive Recall in the Chinese Market

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

Background of the Recall

The announcement stated that on July 28, one of OATLY's American production partners, Lyons Magnus LLC., issued a recall for 53 different brands of beverages and nutritional products over concerns about potential microbial contamination on 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 was that they did not meet commercial sterility standards and might pose risks of microbial contamination, including Cronobacter sakazakii and Clostridium botulinum. Clostridium botulinum has not yet been found in the products. Consumers are advised not to consume any recalled batch, even if it appears or smells normal.

Expansion of the Recall

By August 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had 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 China is produced by the company involved. Although its batch numbers are not on the recall list Lyons Magnus published in the United States, the products were also tested according to regulations when imported and complied with the relevant laws. After the production company issued its announcement, OATLY immediately sent products from this company to nationally recognized laboratories for testing, and the results showed no microbial contamination in the Oat Drink Deluxe 330ml.

Out of caution, OATLY China announced on August 19 a recall of 12 batches of Oat Drink Deluxe 330ml with the following production dates:

Consumer Reactions

After the announcement, some consumers immediately asked 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 the relevant regulations, asking consumers to rest assured.

Controversy Over the Recall

Regarding the sudden recall of products that had shown no issues, some consumers felt that since there was no problem in the domestic market, there was no need to recall the products, which would only generate 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 said the product had not been introduced in China and urged consumers to buy 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 recall and 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. Coffee shops of all sizes in China gradually began offering oat milk options, drawing 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 with 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 or plant-based milk.)

Considerations About Oat Milk

Compared with other plant-based milks such as soy and almond, however, oat milk does not have the lowest fat content, because it requires added vegetable oil to adjust texture, leaving its fat content second only to whole milk. So one should not drink 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

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

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