Totally Cool — a Maryland company that manufactures ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cakes, ice cream, sorbet, and other frozen treats for a slew of well-known brands such as Hershey’s and Jeni’s — has voluntarily recalled 65 products across 13 brands due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
It’s summer, it’s hot outside, and it’s National Ice Cream month, all of which make it especially hard to share this news, but according to a notice published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company has temporarily stopped production and distribution of its ice cream products. A total of thirteen brands have been listed in the recall, but it’s important to note that only the products, UPC codes, and best-by dates listed by the FDA are potentially affected. The brands whose products have been recalled include:
- Abilyn’s Frozen Bakery
- AMAFruits
- ChipWich
- Cumberland Farms
- Dolcezza Gelato
- Friendly’s
- The Frozen Farmer
- Hershey’s Ice Cream
- Jeni’s
- LaSalle
- Marco
- Taharka
- Yelloh!
A full list of the affected products, including their best-by or sell-by dates, UPC codes, lot codes, or plant codes, and photos of the packaging can be found on the FDA’s website.
As of this writing, the FDA says that no illnesses connected to this recall have been reported. According to the agency, people who have consumed products contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may develop symptoms within a few hours or it may take a couple of days. Some of the most widely reported symptoms include diarrhea, fever, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. More severe cases can cause confusion, convulsions, headaches, loss of balance, and stiff neck.
The FDA adds that, due to the range of symptoms and potential severity of the resulting illness, anyone who believes they may have contracted listeriosis should contact their medical provider immediately.
Per the FDA, the agency’s own product sampling discovered the presence of listeria in the now-recalled ice cream products. “[Totally Cool, Inc.] continues its investigation and is taking preventive actions,” the agency wrote. “No other products produced by Totally Cool, Inc. are impacted by this recall.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria is a germ that’s difficult to eradicate completely due to how easily it spreads. Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products should return them to the point of purchase or discard them. Additionally, any freezer shelves, countertops, or other kitchen surfaces that have come in contact with the products should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
If customers have questions about the recall or the affected products, they may contact Totally Cool by calling (410) 363-7801 from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST or by emailing regulatory@totallycoolicecream.com.
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