Warning issued in Germany about potential glass shards in counterfeit Nestlé coffee

Nestlé Deutschland has issued an urgent warning that counterfeit versions of its Nescafé Gold brand of instant coffee have been found on sale in Germany. There is a serious concern that the copies may contain foreign objects such as plastic or broken glass.

It is not yet clear how many counterfeit jars have been circulating, but they have been found in small shops and weekly markets in the country. There have also been reports of the product appearing in the Netherlands. 

Given the presence of unknown contaminants, Nescafé Gold retailers and drinkers need to be particularly vigilant. While the counterfeits seem to be fairly localised for now, this may not remain the case.

What to look out for:

The first thing to note is that the fake products are being sold in older glass containers that have not been used for years. Therefore, it is strongly advised that food businesses, retailers, and consumers familiarise themselves with the newer shape. 

Additionally, the counterfeits (see image) have:

• The EAN code 405500210900
• The batch number 60820814B1 9:15 with the best before date of 10-21

Nestlé has stressed that all their Nescafé products are safe. In a statement on the Nestlé Deutschland website, they stated (translated from German):

“We are shocked by the criminal machinations and deeply condemn that our trademark has been unlawfully counterfeited and placed on the market. The quality and safety of our products are our top priority.”

Current stock should be checked, as should future purchases from suppliers, no matter how reliable or trusted they might be. Germany has a highly regulated food industry with strict procedures for retailers and food chains, but as cases like this show – the need for vigilance is ongoing. 

 By Food Safety Select