The FDA made a nationwide recall of over 60 ice creams for possible listeria contamination. This recall was performed by an Owings Mills based manufacturer Totally Cool which produces different types of products including pints, ice cream cakes and ice cream sandwiches and it entails much significance in terms food safety alert.
Affected Ice Cream Brands
Among the Ice Cream brands affected are:
- Friendly’s
- Abilyn’s Frozen Bakery
- Hershey’s Ice Cream
- Cumberland Farms
- Jeni’s (ice cream sandwiches)
- Yelloh!
- The Frozen Farmer
- LaSalle
- Dolcezza Gelato
- Taharka
- Marco
- ChipWich
- AMAFruits
There is a broad distribution of these products throughout the U.S. through stores and direct shipment. On their site, the FDA has an exhaustive catalog which includes not only dates but also the factories manufacturing the damaged items.
Health Risks and Symptoms
Listeria monocytogenes is a dangerous bacterium that can cause severe infections, mainly in youngchildren, elderly people and those with reduced immunity. Pregnant women are also, at risk because Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. High fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea are signs of the illness due to Listeria monocytogenes.
Preventative Measures and Consumer Guidance
Totally Cool is no longer making or selling the affected products after the FDA found listeria as part of their usual quality checks. If you have bought any of these products that have been recalled, I suggest that you take them back to where you bought them from so that you can get all your money returned to you.
No illnesses have been reported yet, however, FDA is still investigating the contamination to ensure it does not occur in future. They are collaborating with Totally Cool to be certain that each one of the preventive measures is apply.
Food Safety Standards:
This recent product recall which has underlined the significance of vigorous food safety standards and the necessity for on-going surveillance aimed at preserving the health of the general public. According to CDC’s estimate, in every year 1,600 Americans fall ill with listeriosis with about 260 people dying from it.
There is a warning to people to follow food recalls and food poisoning guidelines. It is the health of people in any part of the nation that the Federal Drug Administration is focusing on.
