Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Recalls All Products, Temporarily Closes Stores Due to Listeria Risk

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams of Columbus, OH, announced Thursday that the company has initiated a recall of all ice creams, frozen yogurts, sorbets, and ice cream sandwiches for all flavors and containers because of the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Also, the company said it is ceasing all sales and closing all seven of its scoop shops until it is sure that all of its products are 100-percent safe.

The ice creams, frozen yogurts, sorbets, and ice cream sandwiches being recalled were distributed in the U.S. to retail outlets, including food service accounts and grocery markets, as well as online at jenis.com. This recall includes all products bearing the “Jeni’s” brand name.

The contamination was discovered in a sample randomly collected by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is not aware of any illness reports to date related to the recalled products. However, out of an abundance of caution, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams stated that the company is taking this measure in order to ensure complete consumer safety.

“Our top priority is guaranteeing the safety of all consumers by taking every possible precaution,” said John Lowe, CEO of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

“We have called in experts to help us find the root cause,” Lowe said. “We will be working with our suppliers to determine if the bacteria was introduced by one of the ingredients we use. We will not reopen the kitchen until we can ensure the safety of our customers.”

Customers who have purchased any of the products are urged to dispose of them or return them to the store where they were purchased for an exchange or full refund and to consult with their physician regarding any medical questions.

Customers may also contact Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at (614) 360-3905 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. (EDT) on April 23 and 24, from 9 a.. to 5 p.m. (EDT) on April 25 and 26, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EDT) on Mondays through Fridays thereafter. Jeni’s can also be contacted by email at recall@jenis.com and at jenis.com/recall.

This is the second recall announced this week involving ice cream and related products. On Monday, Blue Bell Creameries of Brenham, TX, announced that it was recalling all of its products made at all four of its plants due to the risk of Listeria contamination. There are 10 illnesses and three deaths to date potentially linked to Blue Bell products.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals infected by Listeria may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, infected pregnant women can suffer miscarriages or stillbirths.

from Food Safety News » Food Recalls http://ift.tt/1zRMVZg