This coffee from a well-known brand contains a toxin that is "carcinogenic to the kidney": do not drink it under any circumstances.

Consumer recall has just announced the recall of a bag of ground coffee from the Bialetti brand, famous for its Italian coffee makers. Its ochratoxin A content, a mycotoxin classified as carcinogenic by the EFSA, exceeds regulatory limits.

For all coffee lovers, Bialetti is a true icon. The Italian brand is world-renowned for creating the moka pot, also known as the Italian coffee maker. In addition to these machines, they also sell their own coffee. But beware if you're one of those who drink it! One particular model is currently subject to a recall.

The consumer recall website Rappel Conso has indeed just published a notice for the Perfetto Moka Caramello coffee sachet. The reason for this recall may raise eyebrows: the ochratoxin A content of the coffee in this sachet exceeds the permitted regulatory limits.

A substance that is "carcinogenic to the kidney"

Put like that, it's not very clear. Except that ochratoxin A, as explained by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), is a substance that can potentially be carcinogenic. Specifically, it's a mycotoxin produced naturally by certain molds.

It can be found in a variety of foods: cereals, fresh and dried fruits, cheeses... and therefore coffee. But above a certain concentration, this substance can be genotoxic and directly damage DNA.

"Experts have confirmed that it can also be carcinogenic to the kidney," warns EFSA.

They thus established what is called a margin of exposure. That is to say, a level beyond which exposure to this toxin can become dangerous. It is this margin that Bialetti coffee exceeds.

10% of French people own an Italian coffee maker

Consumers should therefore be vigilant. As mentioned above, this is Perfetto Moka Caramello, a ground coffee flavored with caramel. It is packaged in a 250-gram plastic bag. This product can be identified by its GTIN (the number on the barcode): 8006363076203.

The batch affected by this recall bears the number LC5 BD149T and has a minimum durability date set at 29 May 2027. Rappel Conso indicates that this coffee was marketed by MaxiCoffee, one of the largest online coffee sales sites.

If you have this product at home, Rappel Conso advises you not to consume it and to notify the company that sold it to you, which should reimburse you.

It's also worth noting that moka pots are less common in France than capsule, pod, or bean-to-cup coffee machines. However, nearly 10% of households still own one, according to a 2021 YouGov study.