Brooklyn Roasting Company has pulled a batch of its pasteurized cold-brew concentrate after regulators flagged a possible botulism risk, prompting a scramble at cafes and retailers across New York and New Jersey. The recall targets commercial 2.5-gallon bag-in-box concentrate that went to wholesale customers and foodservice accounts, where staff are now checking back rooms and walk-ins to isolate any affected stock.
Officials warn that if the product is stored at ambient (room) temperature, it could allow Clostridium botulinum to grow and produce a toxin that attacks the nervous system. Local wholesale customers and foodservice operators have already begun combing through inventory while the recall plays out.
What was recalled
The recall covers Brooklyn Roasting Company pasteurized cold brew concentrate packed in 2.5-gallon bag-in-box units with best-by codes 063026 through 093026. According to PIX11, the FDA says the products were distributed between April 1 and June 20, 2026, to accounts in New York and New Jersey and has labeled the move a Class II recall. Retailers, cafes and distributors are being told to check lot numbers carefully and quarantine any product that matches those codes.
Why it matters
Clostridium botulinum produces a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves and can cause difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis and, in severe cases, death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that botulinum toxin forms when spores germinate in low-oxygen conditions, and that refrigeration or proper acidification usually stops that growth. Cold-brew coffee can be low-acid and, depending on packaging and storage, create conditions where growth is possible, which is why regulators do not take recalls like this lightly. For details on symptoms and treatment, see the CDC.
What to do if you bought it
If you or your business purchased the affected concentrate, stop using it immediately and follow your seller’s return or disposal instructions. The recall notice spells out the exact best-by codes and packaging so wholesale accounts and cafes can pull any affected inventory and notify customers who may have received drinks made with the concentrate. For the recall listing and links to the FDA record, see the reporting at eFoodAlert.
Local context and background
Brooklyn Roasting Company runs cafes and a wholesale roasting operation out of Brooklyn and lists its main site on its company website. Cold-brew products have made recall news before: a widely covered nitro cold-brew recall in 2017 raised similar concerns about low-acid, shelf-stable coffee packaging, though that earlier incident did not result in confirmed illnesses, according to The Washington Post. We reached out to the company and to regulators for comment; agencies handling recalls typically post updates to the FDA database and to company pages as more information becomes available.
Anyone who drank beverages made from the recalled concentrate and later develops symptoms such as blurred vision, drooping eyelids, trouble swallowing or breathing difficulty should seek emergency medical care and tell clinicians about possible botulism exposure. Local health departments and the FDA can provide guidance to concerned consumers and businesses, and we will update this story as officials release further information.
