Starbucks “Vanilla Espresso Triple Shot” drink recalled over metal splinter fears

Thousands of cans of Starbucks’ Vanilla Espresso Triple Shot energy drink are being recalled in seven states over fears they contain metal splinters.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the alert for 2,600 cans — which sold for around $3 each — with an expiration date of March 20, 2023. It affects seven states: Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

It’s not clear how metal splinters could have gotten into the drink, but in similar cases it was due to parts breaking off machines in factories and falling into products.

Food safety experts “strongly recommend” that products be inspected for contamination in factories using X-rays, low-power microwaves and special metal detectors, reports Food Safety Magazine.

Metal fragments pose a serious risk to consumers because their consumption can cause tooth damage, lacerations to the mouth and throat, and – in extreme cases – intestinal punctures, which can lead to death, according to the FDA warning.

The above drink is being recalled in seven states. It sells for around $3 a piece, usually in supermarkets and other stores. Starbucks and PepsiCo — the maker — have not said how metal splinters got into the drinks, but it could be due to parts breaking off during machinery manufacturing

The FDA issued the recall on Sept. 8, saying it was due to “contamination by foreign material (metal fragments).”

Although the 15-ounce cans feature the Starbucks logo, the drinks were made by PepsiCo. Neither company responded to a request from DailyMail.com for comment.

The drinks are typically sold in supermarkets, convenience stores, and other retail outlets, rather than coffee shops operated by Starbucks itself.

The FDA considers any product contaminated if it’s ready to eat and contains a hard or sharp object longer than 7 millimeters — less than a centimeter.

Glass is the most common contaminant, says Food Safety Magazine, although other common types include metals and plastic parts.

They say companies are being asked to check their products for contamination before sending them onto shelves for sale.

This includes regularly inspecting production lines to ensure no parts have broken off and fallen into the products, and using low-power x-rays and microwaves to check for possible contamination.

Health officials warn that eating metal fragments in food can damage your teeth and cut your throat or mouth. In extreme cases, the shards can also get into the intestine, where they cause perforations – or can make a hole in the wall.

This is very painful and can cause toxins to leak into the rest of the body, potentially leading to death.

Recalls are usually reported because they are dealing with dangerous diseases like E.coli that pose a great risk to people’s health.

But there are also several recalls each year for “foreign object” contamination – which usually happens when a part of the machine breaks off during manufacture.

Just last month, Market Pantry’s animal biscuits – shaped like a bear – were recalled after it was discovered they might have been contaminated with metal.

One of the most notable recalls this year was popular brand Skippy’s peanut butter, which saw nearly 10,000 boxes weighing 161,000 pounds recalled after stainless steel splinters were found in some jars.

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