Ripple effect of Recalls due to Listeria Contamination

The potentially contaminated cookie dough with Listeria monocytogenes from Aspen Hills (Garner, IA) has resulted in a number of recallsincluding Chocolate Shoppe, Blue Bunny, Blue Bell, Nutrisystem , cookie dough bars, and Publix ice cream. It might cause additional because the cookie dough could be in dozens of secondary products on yet unnamed companies. The recall of Aspen Hills cookie dough went to 27 food manufacturing companies that had received the dough produced from July 15 through Sept. 30.   Aspen Hills spokesman Jon Austin reported that the recall was voluntarily because “the company found lapses in its food safety system such as inadequate documentation and failure to wear proper uniforms- that could allow the product to become contaminated”. As a result 22,000 cases of cookie dough produced during that time frame and now under recall were sold to food manufacturers. “… our lab results for all of our products are negative for (Listeria monocytogenes) and we have no reports of any illness attributable to this product — but we are acting out of an abundance of caution because a thorough review of our manufacturing environment has revealed instances where we may not have met our food safety standards,” Aspen Hills owners said in a prepared statement.  No illnesses have been reported in connection to the recalled ice cream.   As asked in our previous report: Is the increase in Listeria recalls a sign of more problems or a sign of the industry getting better in catching the problems earlier?

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company

FDA announced announced the recall of Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company Recalls Select Products Containing Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pieces due to Listeria. The ice cream products were distributed to the following states AL, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, OK, PA, SC, TX, WA, WI & WV. The ice cream products were distributed to various ice cream shops around the country, online outlets and limited grocery stores. No illnesses have been reported to date that we are aware of.  Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company, Inc. of Madison, WI is recalling select ice cream products, because they were made with a chocolate chip cookie dough ingredient supplied by Aspen Hills, Inc., which has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Blue Bunny ice cream snickerdoodle cookie dough

FDA reports that Wells Enterprises, Inc. is voluntarily recalling two lots of 46-ounce containers of Blue Bunny Hoppin’ Holidoodle ice cream sold at retail outlets, because they contain snickerdoodle cookie dough pieces recalled by the supplier, Aspen Hills, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The product was distributed in six states: Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arizona and Texas. Wells has received no reports of illness attributable to this product. No other Blue Bunny product is included in this recall.

Blue Bell Ice Cream

Blue Bell Creameries is expanding its recent recall to all of its ice cream products containing cookie dough. The company said while its new test-and-hold program hasn’t detected any contamination concerns, it initiated the expanded recall after Aspen Hills provided additional information on the impacted products.   Blue Bell’s latest action expands a Sept. 21 voluntary recall of two flavors, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Cookie Two Step ice creams, in 10 states, to one that now encompasses five flavors in 16 states. Blue Bell said it is working in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the recall.   The products were produced from Feb. 2, 2016, through Sept. 7, 2016, and distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Nutrisystem , Cookie Dough Bars

according to FDA Nutrisystem, Inc., is voluntarily recalling the Nutricrush Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bar, manufactured by Noble Foods, Inc. This bar contains a chocolate chip cookie dough ingredient supplied by Aspen Hills, which advised that its ingredient might potentially contain Listeria monocytogenes.   The product had very limited distribution of 1 lot/455 cases to ShopRite and Hannaford stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and online through Amazon.com and Walmart.com.  No illnesses have been reported.

Publix Premium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

After being notified by Aspen Hills, the supplier cookie dough pieces used as an ingredient in the Publix Chocolate Cookie Dough Ice Cream, of the potential of Listeria monocytogenes contamination, Publix recalled the products.   The ice cream was sold at Publix stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and North Carolina with a UPC of 000-41415-03843, and a sell by date of May 27 2017, which is printed on the bottom of the half gallon container.   “As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted product has been removed from all store shelves,” said Maria Brous, Publix media and community relations director. “To date, there have been no reported cases of illness.

Additional Listeria Recalls

Listeria in Nestle Drum Stick Ice Cream

Nestlé USA, Inc. initiated a voluntary recall of its Nestlé Drumstick Club 16 count Variety Pack and 24 count Vanilla Pack (with cones marked for easy individual sale) due to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The two pack sizes contain 4.6 fl.oz. cones and were manufactured in Bakersfield, Calif. and distributed nationally. No other production codes, sizes or varieties of Nestlé Drumstick products are affected by this recall.   The company received positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes (LM) from equipment contact surfaces from a location on the production line where these products are made. There have been no positive test results for LM present in the Drumstick cones themselves. The products impacted by the voluntary recall were put into distribution inadvertently.   No illnesses have been reported to date; the company is initiating this recall as a precautionary action to avoid any potential for consumer illness.

Kuster’s Cheese

Kuster’s, Inc. is voluntarily recalling 14,238 pounds of its shredded, sliced and cubed cheese out of an abundance of caution.  Kuster’s, Inc., was notified by its supplier, Farm Country Cheese, Lakeview, MI, that the cheese has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.   “The recall was the result of confirmation from the cheese manufacturer of a possible contamination of the product received,” according to the recall notice. Kuster’s, Inc. is complying with this recall and recalling any product that may have been processed on its manufacturing equipment after the cheese in question was processed. The shredded cheese was distributed in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania.   Products included in this voluntary recall are: sharp white cheddar, mozzarella/muenster/provolone, Monterey Jack, pepper jack,four blend, three blend; pepper jack cubes; and co/jack slices. Product dates can be found in the bottom center of the label. No illnesses had been reported in connection with the recalled cheese as of the posting of the recall notice.

Daily’s Premium Meats Bacon Products

USDA announced that Daily’s Premium Meats, is recalling approximately 170 pounds of ready-to-eat bacon products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.  The “Regular Ends Precooked Bacon” items were produced on September 22, 2016is the subject of this recall. 17 CASES of 2-5 lbs.  Containing “48108 REGULAR ENDS PRECOOKED BACON NET WT. 10 lbs. 2/5 lbs.” with a packaging date of “9/22/16” and use by date of “6/19/17.   The problem was discovered during the company’s routine internal third party testing when a product sample collected tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).  There have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.