A Listeria outbreak that may be linked to Soft Serve on the Go Cups produced by Real Kosher Ice Cream has sickened at least two people. The patients live in Pennsylvania and New York. The outbreak was announced in an FDA recall notice, and the FDA just posted an outbreak investigation notice. We don't know much about this outbreak, such as the patient ages or illness onset dates. The last patient sample collection date was June 29, 2023. We do know that six of the company's products have been recalled, and that the Pennsylvania Department of Health found Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of one of the ice cream products. Whole genome sequencing is being conducted to find out if this pathogen is the same strain of Listeria causing illnesses. The patient in Pennsylvania … [Read more...]
Soft Serve on the Go Cups Recalled For Possible Listeria; 2 Sick
Soft Serve on the Go Cups by Real Kosher Ice Cream are being recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Two people are sick; one person in New York and one in Pennsylvania. Both of these patients were hospitalized. The recalling firm is Real Kosher Ice Cream of Brooklyn, New York. The recalled soft serve ice cream and sorbet cups were sold at the retail level in these states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and in Washington DC. The ice cream was sold in canteens, convenience stores, and grocery stores. The recalled products are all Soft Serve on the Go brand packaged in clear … [Read more...]
Deadly Big Olaf Ice Cream Listeria Outbreak Ends with 28 Sick
The deadly Big Olaf ice cream Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has ended with 28 people sick in 13 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of three more cases since the last update on August 4, 2022. The new patients live in Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. The new states are Minnesota and Massachusetts. The case count by state is: Colorado (1), Florida (14), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kansas (1), Massachusetts (2), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New York (4), and Pennsylvania (1). The patient age range is from less than one to 92 years. Illness onset dates range from January 24, 2021 to August 19, 2022. Of 28 ill persons, 27 were hospitalized. One person from Illinois died. Some of the illnesses … [Read more...]
Deadly Florida Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Linked to Ice Cream
The new deadly Florida Listeria monocytogenes outbreak is linked to ice cream, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a result of the investigation, Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota, Florida is contacting retail locations to recommend they not sell their product. Anyone who has any Big Olaf Creamery brand ice cream at home should discard it immediately, even if some has been consumed and no one has been ill. The case count by state remains at: Colorado (1), Florida (12), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kansas (1), Massachusetts (2), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), New York (2), and Pennsylvania (1). The patient age range is from less than one to 92. Five people got sick during a pregnancy, and one illness resulted in a fetal loss. The person who died lived in … [Read more...]
Recall Roundup: Foods Recently Recalled For Possible Listeria
There have been several recalls of foods for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination recently. Some of these foods are still within their expiration dates and people may have them in their refrigerators or freezers. They include frozen shrimp, enoki mushrooms, ice cream, and chicken salad, among others. None of these foods have been linked to any outbreak. This bacteria is problematic because freezing does not kill it, and it can grow at refrigerator temperatures. And since frozen foods have such a long shelf life, people may have bought these items and forgot about them. Checking your freezer occasionally to make sure you don't have recalled foods is a good way to avoid illness. Foods Recalled For Listeria Enoki Mushrooms There have been three recent recalls of enoki … [Read more...]
Batch Ice Cream Recalled For Possible Listeria Contamination
Batch Ice Cream is being recalled in three flavors because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The recalled flavors are Vanilla, Ginger, and Mocha Chip. No illnesses have been reported to the FDA or the company to date in connection with this issue. The recalling firm is The Royal Ice Cream Company Inc. of Manchester, Connecticut. The ice cream was distributed to Market Basket stores in Massachusetts, Big Y stores in Massachusetts, and CT & Roach Brothers Market stores, also located in Massachusetts. The recalled product is Batch Ice Cream in Vanilla, Ginger, and Mocha Chip flavors that is packaged in paper 16 ounce pint containers. The Batch Ice Cream brand name and flavors are printed on the front of the containers. The recalled products are coded … [Read more...]
Velvet Ice Cream Recalled For Possible Listeria Contamination
Velvet Ice Cream recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This voluntary recall is for all of the company's products that were made on or after March 24, 2021. Almost 100 different varieties of ice cream and sherbet are recalled. No illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with the consumption of these products. The pathogen was found in the company's routine testing. The FDA sent a warning letter to the company in May 2019 about environmental samples taken from their facility that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The same strain of Listeria was found in swabs taken during that 2019 inspection as the inspection that was conducted in 2018, which indicates a resident pathogen. One of the issues with Listeria monocytogenes and … [Read more...]
FDA Warns Velvet Ice Cream Company About Listeria Monocytogenes
The FDA has sent a warning letter to the Velvet Ice Cream Company of Utica, Ohio, that Listeria monocytogenes has been found in their facility during inspection. The company makes ready-to-eat ice cream. There is zero tolerance for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in ready-to-eat products, including deli meats and cheeses and ice cream because the consumer does not heat the food before eating, which would kill the pathogen. Once Listeria is introduced into a facility, it can become persistent and be very difficult to eradicate. In fact, there have been several issues with Listeria contamination in ice cream plants for the past few years. In April 2019, the FDA stated they were taking steps to improve ice cream production after finding the pathogen in 19 of the 89 ice cream … [Read more...]
FDA Improves Ice Cream Production Safety After Listeria Outbreaks
The FDA announced today that they are taking steps to improve ice cream production after inspecting food facilities and collecting and testing samples from the environment where foods are produced. The notice states, "Following a string of safety issues related to a number of U.S. ice cream distributors, the FDA engaged a team to inspect and obtain environmental samples from 89 ice cream production facilities in 32 states to test for Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. The government found that some were in violation of the law." There have been two Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks linked to ice cream in the past few years. Last year, one person was sickened after eating Working Cow Homemade ice cream. And in 2015, the CDC released information about 10 people sickened with … [Read more...]
Working Cow Homemade Ice Cream Listeria Outbreak: FDA Lifts Suspension
The FDA has lifted the suspension of Working Cow Homemade, reinstating their facility registration. In October 2018, the FDA suspended the company's registration, so the firm was forced to stop operating. During the months that followed, Working Cow Homemade submitted a proposed shift in business to become a warehouse distributor of ice cream products instead of a manufacturer. The company will not resume manufacturing operations. In October 2018, that company recalled two varieties of their ice cream after one person in Florida was allegedly sickened. The FDA found a strain of Listeria monocytogenes during environmental sampling of the facility in 2017. The government did not release any more information about the ill person. The FDA used their authority granted by the 2011 … [Read more...]
