Starbucks Acts Quickly to Manage a Product Recall

By Mike Rozembajgier

In a break from the usual reliance on suppliers, Starbucks this week took the initiative to immediately announce its own recall after a supplier found ready-to-eat meals to be potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Shortly after receiving word from the Flying Food Group, LLC, a Georgia-based supplier, Starbucks issued a public announcement that identified the products in question and confirmed that the recalled items were no longer available in the Georgia and Alabama locations to which they had been distributed. The products in question included the Starbucks Chipotle Chicken Wraps Bistro Box and the Starbucks Chicken & Hummus Bistro Box.

Flying Food Group was first advised of the potential contamination as a result of testing performed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Subsequently, the company issued a recall of 204 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken used in its products.

The FSIS reported its findings after conducting microbiological testing on a sample of the chicken used in the products sold to Starbucks. The FSIS is the USDA unit responsible for ensuring commercial supplies of meat, poultry, and egg products are safe for consumption.

In its public announcement, Starbucks said, “We had responded immediately and in partnership with our supplier and USDA, we will continue to work to ensure that all products meet Starbucks high quality assurance standards.” The announcement went on to say that “We will continue to respond quickly and with great care to ensure that all of our suppliers meet our high standards.”

A recent Food Safety News article on the recall explains that Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease that can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.

The quick and decisive action Starbucks took in this case is a great example of how the recall process should play out. The company’s cooperation with the USDA ensured that they were covering all bases and working to the best of their ability to protect their customers, rather than just shifting the problem over to their supplier and relying on them to communicate with the public. So far, no illnesses have been reported as a result of eating the recalled chicken.

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