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A large ice cream recall affecting a variety of ice cream, sorbet, ice cream cakes, and desert products was announced this week, just as Summer goes into full swing. Retailers and consumers are urged to check their freezers for recalled product, as it may contain the harmful pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes.
Totally Cool, Inc ceased production and distribution of many ice cream-based products following a notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The harmful and potentially life-threatening pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes was discovered during routine sampling activities.
The company initiated a recall for potentially involved products and “continues its investigation and is taking preventive actions.”
Totally Cool, Inc is an ice cream manufacturer specializing in private labeling and co-packing ice cream products.
What does that mean?
Companies using their services provide product recipes and specifications, and Totally Cool, Inc makes and packages it for them. In this way, a company can concentrate on R&D and selling the product while their co-packer does what they do best – make the product in high volume.
Unfortunately, when one manufacturer “touches” so many products, if something goes wrong, the downline effects can be massive.
This effect is not limited to co-packers or private label manufacturers. Many huge fruit, vegetable, and meat recalls impacts thousands of pounds of products because they run through a common processing facility.
A specialized facility requires extensive infrastructure, trained staff, and permits. Many companies streamline their processes by using these facilities despite the risk.
In this case, there are 13 companies impacted in a single recall event.
Affected products were distributed nationwide and available in both retail locations and direct delivery.
Recalled products include:
No other Totally Cool, Inc products are subject to the recall.
So far there have been no reports of illness associated with this recall to date.
The reason for this ice cream recall was due to contamination concerns. Listeria monocytogenes was found in routine FDA sampling activities.
Listeria monocytogenes is a harmful pathogen that can cause severe and life-threatening illness and is a serious concern for people who are pregnant and their newborns.
Listeria monocytogenes is the bacteria responsible for the illness, listeriosis. The most common cause of listeriosis is consuming a food contaminated with the bacteria.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around 1,600 people become sick with listeriosis each year. This causes about 260 deaths.
While anyone who is exposed to Listeria can become sick, most normally healthy individuals rarely become seriously ill.
There are, however, certain people who are more likely to become infected if exposed and experience more severe illness. These include pregnant people and their newborns, the elderly aged 65 and older, and those with a compromised immune system.
Listeriosis symptoms are a bit tricky. Symptoms vary based on whether a person is pregnant or not. Those who are pregnant often experience milder symptoms, though the bigger risk is to their fetus or newborn.
Pregnant people may experience fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, becoming sick with listeriosis while pregnant increases the chance of still birth, premature delivery, miscarriage, or life-threatening infection of their newborn.
Symptoms for those who are not pregnant often include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Fever and muscle aches are also possible.
Most people recover from listeriosis on their own without medical intervention. For those in higher risk groups or experiencing severe infection, specialize antibiotics are prescribed. Hospitalization may be necessary.
If you consumed recalled product, you likely have questions. What should you do next?
If you consumed recalled foods recently, you should monitor yourself for symptoms. Particularly if you are pregnant.
Symptoms usually begin within 24 hours of consuming contaminated food. For mild cases, symptoms usually resolve within three days.
If you become sick from consuming a recalled brand, but a different lot number or date code, you should retain product packaging. Product packaging and subsequent data can help investigators widen the scope of a recall if additional lots are included in the contamination event.
Your information can help prevent others from becoming sick.
If you become seriously ill, you will want to get advice from an experienced Listeria Lawyer. The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has represented many families with cases just like yours.
Reach out for a free consultation to go over the details of your situation. Call (833) 330-3663 or click here to fill out the online submission.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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