Leading mezcal brand, Del Maguey, has issued a recall for its promotional ceramicware cups called ‘copitas’ because they may exceed FDA guidance levels for leachable lead, the company announced Monday.
None of the Del Maguey mezcal products are included in the recall. To date, no complaints of illness or injury related to usage of the copitas have been reported.
“As soon as we discovered the potential issue in some samples that were tested, we took steps to investigate, test, and we decided out of an abundance of caution to voluntarily recall the copitas,” said a Del Maguey spokesperson via email.
The copitas, which have become a trademark of the brand, were distributed to consumers at retail locations, events and tastings across the U.S. Copitas were also included in value-added packs (VAPs) sold by retail stores since October 2022; the VAPs included a 750 ml bottle of Del Maguey Vida de Muertos mezcal and four copitas. This recall covers all copitas distributed by Del Maguey to date, estimated at approximately 180,000 in total.
Lead may be present in the glazes or decorations covering the surface of some traditional pottery. If the pottery is not manufactured properly, the lead can leach into food and drink that is prepared, stored, or served in the dishes.
The cup is made of red clay, with applied enamel on the surface that holds liquid inside. It holds a maximum of 1 oz, and measures 2.5 inches wide and 1 inch in height. The copitas can be identified by the embossed brand name, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, which encircles the word Mexico located on the inside of the cup.
The copitas were produced by various suppliers in Mexico who have been informed of the issue. Del Maguey is working with a new supplier to produce copitas that will undergo safety testing, and will distribute them when available.
Credited with introducing mezcal into the U.S. market, Del Maguey founder Ron Cooper debuted the distinct green bottles in 1995, well before mezcal’s recent rise. The ceramic cups were custom designed in partnership with suppliers to mirror traditional mezcal drinking vessels that typically offer a wide rim, opening up the agave spirit for sippers to experience more of the aromas and flavors. Before the current mezcal renaissance, Cooper introduced the spirit to bartenders using the copitas on sales visits.
The brand, now known for offering single-village expressions of mezcal, was acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2017.