That first cup of coffee is a favorite ritual for millions of Americans. And over the last few years, that morning joe is likely to be a K-cup, the single-serving pods made by Keurig.

Whether it’s Peet’s or Starbucks, Dunkin’ or Illy-branded K-Cup pods, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. effectively owns the single-pod market, selling around 13 billion a year, according to Statista (Keurig does not publicize exactly how many it sells).

Now Keurig is voluntarily recalling 80,000 McDonald’s McCafe-branded K-Cup Pods. In the recall notice, Keurig Dr Pepper noted that the product is “labeled as decaf, but might contain caffeine.”

According to the FDA notice, this is a Class II recall, meaning consumption could cause “temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”

Check your pantry for these recalled K-Cup Pods.

Photo by Guido Mieth on Getty Images

Keurig voluntarily recalls McDonald’s McCafe K-Cup Pods

If you have McCafe Premium Roast Decaf Coffee K-Cup Pods at home, the FDA recommends returning them, since products labeled as decaf may contain caffeine.

Food recalls happen for a variety of reasons — contamination with bacteria or foreign objects, allergen risks, and labeling errors among them. Labeling or mislabeling errors account for about 45.5% of recalls — more than any other recall trigger — and cost the industry almost $2 billion each year, according to FDA analysis cited by New Food Magazine.

Details about the recalled McDonald’s McCafe K-Cup Pods

  • Recall number: H-0419-2026
  • Where sold: California, Indiana, and Nevada
  • Best by date: 17 NOV 2026
  • Batch Number: 5101564894
  • Material Number: 5000358463
  • ASIN: B07GCNDL91
  • UPC 043000073438

Keurig is one of the biggest coffee suppliers in the U.S.

The recall comes at a time when Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. is outperforming rivals on profitability. Since recalls can undermine consumer trust, even a minor one poses a risk for brands.

In 2025, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. saw a profit margin of 16.7%, according to data from IBISWorld. This is higher than its competitors’ rates, including J.M. Smucker Co. (7.3%), Nestlé (16.3%), Kraft Heinz Co. (12.1%), and Starbucks Corporation (9.5%).

“Keurig’s profit margin ranks as the highest among these major coffee companies,” according to the IBISWorld data.

  • Market share: 11.7% of the U.S. Coffee Production industry
  • Revenue: $1.6 billion
  • Profit: $269.1 million

Risks for people who are allergic to caffeine

The mislabeled Keurig K-Cups could be dangerous for people who are allergic to caffeine.

For most people, small or even moderate amounts of caffeine are harmless, but anyone who has a caffeine sensitivity may feel the effects more intensely, leading to a racing heartbeat, jitteriness, anxiety, nausea, headaches, or trouble sleeping, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Many consumers who prefer decaffeinated beverages report that accidentally consuming caffeine later in the day can lead to racing heartbeats, jitteriness, anxiety, nausea, headaches, or trouble sleeping.

Related: Voluntary vs. mandatory food recalls: what you should know

While true caffeine allergies are rare, they can trigger a potentially dangerous immune response. For someone with such an allergy, “your immune system mistakenly thinks caffeine is a harmful invader and reacts to try to get rid of it,” the Cleveland Clinic reports.

Allergic reactions can include hives, swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, or even anaphylaxis — a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.

A brief history of the Keurig K-Cup

In more than 38 million homes across the U.S., a morning pot of brewed coffee is a thing of the past: Millions of people now prefer to make one cup at a time, according to a recent Keurig Dr Pepper annual report.

The pods are convenient and prevent coffee from going down the drain. Here’s a short timeline of the industry-dominating Keurig K-Cup:

  • 1998: Keurig launches single-serve system, according to Keurig Dr Pepper.
  • 2004: Keurig expands to home brewing, also per Keurig Dr Pepper.
  • 2006: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters acquires Keurig.
  • 2012: K-Cup patent expires, increasing competition.
  • 2014: Company announcesplan to make K-Cups recyclable.
  • 2018: Keurig faces a class-action lawsuit over recyclability claims, according to the Columbia Law School climate case database.
  • 2024: SEC charges Keurig over misleading recyclability statements; Keurig agrees to pay a $1.5 million penalty, per the SEC.