January 1, Urgent Nationwide Ice Cream Recall: Listeria Risk Affects 13 Popular Brands

Indulging in ice cream on a hot summer day is a treat, but you may want to check your freezer stash. A June 24 notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that 13 different ice cream brands sold nationwide are being recalled.

The recall was initiated by Totally Cool, Inc. of Owings Mills, Maryland, due to concerns about potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The affected products include several pints of sorbet and ice cream, as well as ice cream cakes, cones, and sandwiches from 13 brands.

Friendly’s, Abilyn’s Frozen Bakery, Hershey’s Ice Cream, Yelloh!, Jeni’s, Cumberland Farms, The Frozen Farmer, Marco, ChipWich, AMAFruits, Taharka, Dolcezza Gelato, and LaSalle brands were pulled. The FDA document provides a complete list of specific items and affected posts. The recall does not impact any products other than those listed in the FDA document.

These ice cream products were distributed nationwide and were available at retail locations and via direct delivery. After sampling revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, Totally Cool, Inc. “ceased the production and distribution of the affected products.” The company is also “taking preventive actions” while the FDA continues its investigation.

Listeria is an organism that can cause “serious and sometimes fatal infections” in children, elderly people, and those with compromised immune systems. The FDA warns that healthy individuals may experience short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Pregnant women are at risk of miscarriages and stillbirths from Listeria infection.

Listeria infection is most commonly caused by improperly processed deli meats and unpasteurized milk products, according to the Mayo Clinic. The bacteria can also withstand colder environments, surviving both refrigeration and freezing.

Totally Cool, Inc. has not received reports of illnesses related to the recall, but consumers are instructed to return any recalled products to their place of purchase for a full refund. The FDA advises contacting Totally Cool, Inc. with any questions, providing phone and email contact information in the recall notice.

This is not the first time ice cream has faced Listeria concerns. In August 2023, the FDA investigated a Listeria outbreak tied to dairy and non-dairy products with the Ice Cream House logo. In November 2023, Wilcox Ice Cream recalled all flavors of its Wilcox brand ice cream, yogurt, and ice cream bars, as well as Leonardo’s brand gelato, after potential contamination was identified by the Vermont Department of Agriculture.

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