Clover Valley Coffee Recall Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Dollar General Corporation voluntarily recalled Clover Valley Instant Coffee, its private-label 8-ounce coffee sold in its stores. The company announced the recall on August 11, 2025, and the FDA posted the notice publicly the next day, covering three recalled lots. The recall covers coffee that may contain small pieces of glass. Ingesting glass fragments can injure the mouth, throat, or intestines. Dollar General is asking customers to discard the coffee and contact the company for a full refund. No illnesses or injuries have been reported. The Food and Drug Administration lists this recall as completed and terminated. A customer’s report to store employees led Dollar General to identify the possible contamination and issue the recall.

Latest Clover Valley Instant Coffee Recall Updates

August 12, 2025: FDA Posts the Recall Notice

On August 12, 2025, the recall notice was posted publicly, making Dollar General‘s announcement official [1]. It covers the same three recalled lots, following a customer’s report of possible glass in the product. The same notice states that this recall is now completed and that the FDA has terminated it, closing the matter first opened when the company announced the recall the day before.

August 11, 2025: Dollar General Announces the Recall

One day earlier, on August 11, 2025, the company announced the recall directly, after employees learned of the possible glass contamination. Three lots were named: L-5163, L-5164, and L-5165. The company said it was looking into the source of the problem. It offered a full refund to anyone who set the coffee aside and got in touch with its customer care team.

Which Clover Valley Coffee Are Affected?

The recall covers three lots of 8-ounce Clover Valley Instant Coffee, identified by the details printed around the neck of each jar:

• UPC 876941004069, the barcode printed on every jar in the recalled batch
• Lot L-5163, with a Best By date of December 13, 2026
• Lot L-5164, also carrying a Best By date of December 13, 2026
• Lot L-5165, with a Best By date of December 14, 2026

Coffee outside these three lots is not part of this recall. The product was sold only in the company’s stores across 48 states, and the notice does not state a retail price or the total number of units affected.

Why Was Clover Valley Coffee Recalled?

Clover Valley Instant Coffee was recalled because some jars may hold small glass fragments. The company learned of the hazard after a customer notified store employees about the possible contamination, and it reported the issue to regulators. Ingesting glass fragments can injure a consumer. The recall notice lists damage to teeth, cuts to the mouth and throat, and perforation of the intestine. These are possible outcomes if a sharp fragment is swallowed. The company has not said publicly how the glass entered the packaging or which step in production may have allowed it. It said it was actively investigating the source of the contamination. No cause has been announced publicly beyond the original notice, and no follow-up finding has been published.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

The recall notice states that no illnesses or injuries had been reported as of August 11, 2025, the day the company first announced it. A second posting the next day, from the agency, carried the same information. That count reflects reports made directly to the company and the agency through the notice’s publication date. Reports of an incident are not proof that this coffee caused it. Anyone who swallowed glass from this coffee and has not reported it can still seek a medical evaluation and describe what happened to a health care provider. Reporting afterward still helps the agency track how many people this recall affected, even without a report at the time.

What Should Consumers Do?

Consumers who have Clover Valley Instant Coffee from any of the three recalled lots should take the following steps before drinking it:

1. Stop using the coffee right away and do not consume it, even if it looks or smells normal.
2. Check the UPC and lot code printed around the jar’s neck against UPC 876941004069 and lots L-5163, L-5164, or L-5165.
3. Discard the coffee, or return it to any store for disposal.
4. Contact the company at customercare@dollargeneral.com or 1-888-309-9030, 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. CST seven days a week, to request a full refund.
5. Seek care from a health care professional if you swallowed a sharp piece of glass. What happens next depends on the size of the fragment [2].
6. Report any injury connected to this product through the agency’s consumer safety-reporting program.

Legal Options

No lawsuit or class action has been filed over the glass found in Clover Valley Instant Coffee, and no multidistrict litigation exists for this recall. A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation. Schmidt & Clark reviews potential food-contamination injury claims for people harmed by this product on request, at no cost, without any obligation to proceed. A separate 2021 case, Mike Allen v. Dolgencorp, proposed paying up to $3.1 million over a different, unrelated issue – mislabeled ground-coffee package yield, not glass – pending court approval [3].

Filing Deadlines

Anyone considering a claim over an injury from this recall faces a filing deadline. That deadline is set by state law, not by the company or the agency that posted the recall. That deadline depends on where you live and on when the injury happened, and in some states, on when it was discovered. Waiting can end a claim even when the underlying facts are strong. A lawyer familiar with product-injury claims can identify the deadline that applies to your specific situation and confirm whether time remains to act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Clover Valley Coffee Settlement the Same as the Glass Recall?

No, the Clover Valley coffee settlement is not the same as this glass recall. That case addressed ground coffee labeling, and its Claim Form filing period ended July 6, 2021, a different timeline from this Instant Coffee glass recall, which has no lawsuit or claims-filing process of its own.

What Are the Symptoms of Swallowing Glass from Contaminated Coffee?

The symptoms of swallowing glass from contaminated coffee usually do not appear for a small piece, which typically passes on its own. A larger or sharp piece can injure the throat or gut. Watch for chest or abdominal pain, blood in stool, a bloated abdomen, or fever, and seek care.

How Long Was Clover Valley Instant Coffee Sold Before the Recall?

Clover Valley Instant Coffee was sold for about two weeks before the recall. It was distributed in Dollar General stores across 48 states between July 9 and July 21, 2025. The company began the recall roughly three weeks after sales ended, once a customer flagged the possible glass contamination.

Where Can I Verify the Clover Valley Coffee Recall Is Official?

You can verify the Clover Valley coffee recall is official on FDA.gov, where the agency posted Dollar General’s announcement, or directly through Dollar General’s own recall notice. The notice carries no separate recall or campaign number, so match the UPC and lot codes on your jar instead.

What Should I Do If I Swallow Glass from This Coffee?

If you swallow glass from this coffee and have symptoms or suspect a sharp piece, contact a health care professional right away. You can also get free, confidential guidance from Poison Control online or by calling 1-800-222-1222, staffed 24 hours a day, separate from Dollar General’s refund line.

How Do I Get a Refund for Recalled Clover Valley Coffee?

You can get a refund for recalled Clover Valley coffee by contacting Dollar General at customercare@dollargeneral.com or 1-888-309-9030. Have the UPC and lot code from your jar ready before you call or email, so the company can confirm your coffee is part of the recall.

References

1. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dollar-general-announces-voluntary-recall-clover-valleyr-instant-coffee-due-potential-presence-glass
2. https://www.poison.org/articles/foreign-body-ingestion-glass
3. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/if-you-purchased-clover-valley-ground-coffee-from-dollar-general-between-january-1-2015-and-april-1-2021-a-class-action-settlement-may-affect-your-rights-301281476.html