Matcha Products Face New Safety Scrutiny After Salmonella Recall And Lead Notice

Matcha products are facing fresh safety scrutiny after two separate concerns surfaced: a Salmonella-related recall involving matcha beverage powder supplied to cafés and a California Proposition 65 notice alleging lead exposure from a matcha latte powder. The recall involved SKS Copack products distributed through cafés, restaurants, and direct delivery, while the lead notice focused specifically on Cappuccine Matcha Green Tea Latte Frappe Mix. Although the two issues are separate, both are raising questions about how matcha powders are tested, labeled, and sold to consumers.

The Recalled Matcha Brand Was Angel Specialty Products

The matcha product listed in the FDA-posted recall was Angel Specialty Products MATCHA GREEN TEA 4/3#, item code BIC3010. Two lots were listed: lot code 20260224, with a best by date of Aug. 25, 2027, and lot code 20260424, with a best by date of Oct. 23, 2027. The FDA notice did not list a UPC for this recalled matcha powder, so consumers and cafés are being told to check the stamped lot codes on the back of the package instead.

Where the Recalled Matcha Was Sold

The recalled Angel Specialty Products matcha powder was not described as a typical grocery-aisle item; it was distributed through cafés, restaurants, and direct delivery across 25 states. Those states include California, Texas, New York, Arizona, Illinois, Oklahoma, and others listed in the FDA recall. For shoppers, that means the product may be more likely to appear behind a café counter, in food-service supply channels, or through direct business delivery rather than on a standard supermarket tea shelf.

Why the Matcha Recall Happened

The matcha recall was tied to possible Salmonella contamination from a supplier ingredient, not from matcha leaves themselves. SKS Copack said the recall began after California Dairies, Inc. notified the company of a voluntary recall involving a lot of low-heat nonfat dry milk powder that tested positive for Salmonella during routine testing. Because that dry milk powder was used in beverage mixes, SKS Copack recalled affected products, including the Angel Specialty Products Matcha Green Tea powder.

The Lead Notice Named Cappuccine Matcha Green Tea Latte Frappe Mix

The separate lead-related notice named Cappuccine Matcha Green Tea Latte Frappe Mix as the matcha product at issue. The notice identified the product by ASIN B06Y4DVPK4, rather than a UPC, and listed Cappuccine Specialties, Inc., J.L. Hufford Coffee & Tea Company, and Amazon.com Services LLC among the alleged violators connected to the product.

Who Issued the Lead Notice and What It Alleged

The lead notice was a Notice of Violation under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, better known as Proposition 65. It was dated May 15, 2026, and was provided by Public Protection Alliance LLC, which alleged that ordinary use of certain matcha latte powder exposes consumers to lead through ingestion without a clear and reasonable Proposition 65 warning. The notice says the alleged violations have been occurring since at least Aug. 7, 2025.

Where the Lead-Notice Product Was Sold

The Proposition 65 notice points to sales channels connected to Amazon.com Services LLC and J.L. Hufford Coffee & Tea Company, along with the manufacturer, Cappuccine Specialties, Inc. Because the notice identifies an ASIN, B06Y4DVPK4, the product appears to be tied to online retail listings rather than a specific grocery aisle. The notice does not identify a supermarket aisle or in-store placement, so a safe consumer-facing phrasing is that it may be found through online retail or specialty beverage supply sellers.

What Consumers Should Check on Packaging

For the Salmonella recall, consumers and businesses should check for Angel Specialty Products MATCHA GREEN TEA 4/3#, item code BIC3010, and compare the back-of-package lot codes against 20260224 and 20260424. For the lead notice, consumers should look for Cappuccine Matcha Green Tea Latte Frappe Mix and the online identifier ASIN B06Y4DVPK4. Since neither source provides a UPC for these matcha items, lot codes and ASIN details are the most specific identifiers available from the cited notices.

What Officials Say Consumers Should Do

The FDA-posted recall advises anyone who purchased affected SKS Copack products to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. SKS Copack said it stopped distribution of the recalled products, quarantined remaining inventory, and is cooperating with the FDA as the investigation continues. No illnesses had been reported at the time of the recall announcement, but Salmonella can cause serious illness in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Why Matcha Buyers Are Being Urged to Look More Closely

The latest scrutiny shows why matcha buyers should pay close attention to the exact brand, product format, and identifier before assuming every matcha product is affected. The Salmonella recall focused on Angel Specialty Products Matcha Green Tea powder distributed through cafés, restaurants, and direct delivery, while the Proposition 65 lead notice focused on Cappuccine Matcha Green Tea Latte Frappe Mix identified by ASIN B06Y4DVPK4. For consumers, the safest step is to check lot codes, online product identifiers, recall notices, and warning labels before using matcha latte powders or mixes.