More Listeria recalls in the News

In the past, the standard for recalls has been confirmation of a contaminant on actual finished product. In elevating their standards, with the requirement of environmental monitoring programs, including pathogen environmental monitoring programs (PEMPs), the FDA is expanding their criteria for recalls to include presence of contaminants in the general environment. More products are being recalled due to the finding of especially Listeria in the environment. In some cases this has caused a wave of recalls due to a contract manufacturer or a supplier that found Listeria in their environment, contact areas and products.  This is part of the shift from reaction to prevention.

Sabra Hummus Recall

The FDA reported the voluntary recall by Sabra Dipping Co., LLC of certain hummus products made prior to November 8, 2016 due to concerns over Listeria monocytogenes, which was identified at the manufacturing facility but not in tested finished product.

 sabra-hummus

The products recalled include Sabra Organic Hummus, Sabra Salsa, Sabra Guacamole and Sabra Greek Yogurt Dips.

The company spokes person, Shali Shalit Shoval, said “We have invested heavily in technology and enhancing our processes and protocols, with guidance and input from external experts, … such as testing finished product from the production line every two minutes for pathogens including Listeria. We want to reassure our consumers that our procedures include extensive finished product testing, and no products tested positive for contaminants.  Subsequent to the inspection conducted with the FDA, we implemented a thorough and extensive factory-wide cleaning and sanitation procedure, and beyond that, we continue to work very closely with internal and external food safety experts to identify any additional steps we can take to even further enhance our efforts.”

The Ripple effect of Aspen Hill Cookie Dough

In October we reported about the Ripple effect of Recalls due to Listeria Contamination Due to the potentially contaminated cookie dough with Listeria monocytogenes from Aspen Hills (Garner, IA).  The Aspen product has resulted in a number of recalls including Chocolate Shoppe, Blue Bunny, Blue Bell, Nutrisystem , cookie dough bars, and Publix ice cream. As predicted, it caused additional recalls because the cookie dough could be in dozens of secondary products. The additional recalls due to this product include:

Weight Watchers frozen dessertsweightwatcher

The FDA reported that Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae frozen desserts was voluntarily being recalled due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination from Aspen Hills, Inc. Cookie Dough Pieces. This issue was identified when Aspen Hills, the supplier of the cookie dough pieces used as an ingredient in Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae frozen desserts, reported positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes. There have been no consumer complaints or reports of illness related to this issue to date.   The recall is for approximately 100,000 cases of Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae frozen desserts.

 Ashby’s Sterling

Another company affected by the Aspen Hill recall was Ashby’s Sterling. Only Ashby’s Sterling Peanut Butter Landslide Ice Cream packaged In 3 gallon container were recalled. Like the other recalled products with the Aspen Hill ingredients, no illness was reported.

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company EXPANDS Recall

Additional products from Chocolate Shoppe Ice cream containing the Aspen Hill ingredients are being recalled, expending the original recall. The ice cream products were distributed to the following states AL, AZ, CA, FL, IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NE, OH, PA, SC, VT, WA & WI. The ice cream products were distributed to various ice cream shops around the country, online outlets and limited grocery stores.

Cedar Crest

cedar-crestCedar Crest was notified on November 10 that the cookie dough in the products manufactured by Aspen Hills, Inc., has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.   The company is recalling  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Monster Cookie and Pirate’s Bounty ice cream flavors. The affected products were distributed in retail stores throughout the Midwest.

 Recalls Due to contamination in Contract Manufacturer Dr. Bob’s

Pomona News reported that Dr. Bob’s, a California manufacturer of premium ice cream, closed down after FDA inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes in its manufacturing facility. This resulted in the recall of 5 brands of ice cream.

Dr. Bob’s makes its own line of flavors, which has amazed some consumers withdr-bobsingredients such as Scharffen Berger brand chocolate and strawberry, sour cream and brown sugar, as well as ice cream for several other high-end brands.

The FDA had served recall notices for the following companies products produced at Dr. Bob’s Pomona kitchen, according to notices by the federal food safety agency.  The recall notice wrote “ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found samples positive for Listeria monocytogenes in the contract manufacturer’s facility and in finished product of another company’s brand, leading the contract manufacturer to recall all ice cream products .”

AC Creamery

The recalled “Manila Sky Purple Yumm Ice Cream” were distributed nationwide in retail stores and events such as; Florida Food & Lodging Show, Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture and California State University Pilipino American Student Association (CSUF PASA) Friendship Games. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams

Seven flavors (mint chip, peppermint stick, salted caramel chip, sweet cream, Turkish coffee, vanilla bean and Dutchman’s chocolate) sold in pint-sized containers. The 7 affected flavors, available only in pints, account for approximately 15% of the pint-packaged ice cream products carrying the McConnell’s brand label. No illnesses have been reported.

ISB Food Group of Los Angeles — Nancy’s Fancy 

The recalled products include: Nancy’s Fancy butterscotch Budino gelato and Nancy’s Fancy peanut butter with crunchy peanuts gelato with expiration dates of March 18, 2017. The products were distributed from March to October 2016 in California, Oregon and Texas. No illnesses have been reported to date, and no Nancy’s Fancy product has been found to be contaminated.

ISB Food Group — L.A. Creamery

Recalled products are: L.A. Creamery salted caramel ice cream with expiration dates of March 18, 2017. The products were distributed from March to October 2016 in California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Massachusetts. No illnesses have been reported to date, and no L.A. Creamery product has been found to be contaminated.

Agave Dream

The following flavors were recalled: all vanilla, chocolate, cappuccino, chocolate chip and lavender ice creams packaged in pint sized containers. The product was distributed across the United States through retail stores.

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