Many Americans are trying to stay cool with ice cream this summer, but there’s a big Ice Cream recall due to listeria contamination. Totally Cool, located in Owings Mills, Maryland, a food company, is recalling several ice cream brands sold across the country over concerns about listeria contamination., a harmful bacteria.
Affected Ice Cream Brands:
Totally Cool Inc. is recalling more than 60 ice cream products. This includes well-known brands like:
- Hershey’s
- Friendly’s
- Chipwich
- Jeni’s
- Cumberland Farms
- Yelloh!
- The Frozen Farmer
- Marco
- Taharka
- LaSalle
- Dolcezza Gelato
The ice cream recall extends to various types of frozen treats, including:
- Pints
- Sorbet
- Ice cream cakes
- Ice cream sandwiches
- Ice cream cones
What the FDA Says:
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has confirmed that no illnesses have been reported yet. Totally Cool Inc. stopped making and distributing these products after FDA tests found listeria contamination. Moreover, visit the FDA’s website for a list of ice cream recall products.
Actions by Totally Cool Inc.:
Totally Cool Inc. is actively investigating how listeria, a dangerous bacteria, got into their ice cream products. This investigation involves a detailed examination of their production processes, supply chain, and raw materials to pinpoint the source of the contamination. The company is working closely with food safety experts and regulatory authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.
What Should You Do?
If you bought any of the recalled ice creams, return them for a full refund. Moreover, you can identify listeria-contaminated products by checking the date and plant codes on the labels.
Responses from Other Brands:
Chipwich, one of the affected brands, said their parent company uses a separate production line at the same Maryland facility and called the recall “unfortunate” but necessary for safety.
Hershey’s Ice Cream has also stopped selling potentially listeria-contaminated products and asked customers and stores to dispose of any items they have.
Why Listeria contamination is Dangerous:
Listeria contamination can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in:
- Young children
- Elderly people
- People with weakened immune systems
- Pregnant women
- Newborn baby
- Unborn baby
Pregnant people can have miscarriages or stillbirths if infected. On the other hand, healthy people might experience mild symptoms like:
- Fever
- Headache
- Stiffness
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
If you’re “a normally healthy individual, the risk of a severe outcome with listeria is very low,” Dr. Thomas Russo, a professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, stated. But “there is no guarantee that you won’t develop severe disease.”
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), around 1,600 people get infected with listeria each year in the U.S., and about 260 die from it.
Keep cool but staying safe is equally important, check your freezer for the affected ice cream products and follow the recall instructions to ensure your health and safety.
