Molson Canadian, Coors Light beers recalled over metal

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says several brands of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer sold across Canada have been recalled because they may contain pieces of metal.

The recall covers Molson Canadian, Coors Light, Blue Moon, Black Horse, Hop Valley, India Beer and Brasseur de Montréal products, according to the agency’s notice. The recalling firm is Molson Canada 2005. The agency listed the issue as extraneous material and said the products are distributed nationally.

“Do not use, sell, serve or distribute the affected products,” the agency said in the notice.

The recall was started on Nov. 2, and the agency published its public notice on Nov. 10. It is a Class 3 recall, the lowest of the agency’s three risk levels, which it uses when a product is unlikely to cause health problems.

Only specific package sizes and production codes are affected, not every can or bottle of these brands. The notice lists each product by brand, size, UPC and code, so shoppers need to check the code printed on the package against the agency’s table.

Among the products named are Molson Canadian in 15-packs and 12-packs of 355-millilitre containers, 24-packs of 473-millilitre containers and single 473-millilitre containers. Coors Light is listed in 24-packs, 15-packs and eight-packs of 355-millilitre containers. Black Horse is listed in eight-packs of 355-millilitre containers with the code J296.

Blue Moon has the longest list. It includes Belgian White in 355-millilitre and 473-millilitre formats, Mango Wheat in 473-millilitre formats with the code K026, Light Citrus Wheat in 12-packs of 355-millilitre containers with the code K156, and non-alcoholic Belgian White in six-packs and 24-packs of 355-millilitre containers.

Brasseur de Montréal, a Montreal brewery, has several craft products on the list. They include Normanville Hazy IPA, Bonsecours Lager Light, Griffintown Blonde Ale, Petite-Bourgogne Red Ale and the Neighbourhood’s Pick mixed pack, in four-packs of 473-millilitre cans and 12-packs of 355-millilitre cans.

The agency’s notice is aimed mainly at retail, and it tells stores and restaurants to stop selling or serving the affected beer. Consumers who have any of the products at home are advised to check the codes. The notice does not describe any refund process. Questions can go to the agency at [email protected] or 1-613-773-2342.

The agency did not say in the notice how the metal got into the beer or whether anyone has reported an injury. It said the notice was last updated on Nov. 9.

Food recalls over pieces of metal have appeared in Canada several times in recent weeks. The agency recalled grated carrots in Quebec over pieces of metal on Nov. 4, and has issued a run of other notices that Canada News Media has covered, including T&T black soybeans over undeclared milk on Nov. 10.

The full list of affected products and codes is on the Government of Canada recalls and safety alerts website.

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