Ashby’s Sterling ice cream 6th brand recalled for cookie dough

House of Flavors Inc. is recalling Ashby’s Sterling brand ice cream because it contains cookie dough that was recalled in September after Blue Bell Creameries’ internal testing found Listeria monocytogenes.

Ashby’s Sterling Peanut Butter Landslide ice cream in 3-gallon containers with the item number 7305 and lot number 16195 is the only product under recall by House of Flavors Inc. of Ludington, MI.

Ice cream shops and other retailers across the country received the recalled ice cream, which is made with peanut butter cookie dough from Aspen Hills Inc., according to the recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

“Distributors and ice cream shops with product matching this lot number should dispose of the product and contact their distributor for a full refund. Anyone requiring more information should contact House of Flavors consumer affairs at 800-930-7740, Ext. 2229,” according to the recall notice.

House of flavors joins several other food companies that have recalled products from nationwide distribution this fall because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes of cookie dough from Aspen Hills Inc. of Garner, IA.

Those companies include:

• Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company Inc.;
• Blue Bell Creameries;
• Blue Bunny;
• Nutrisystem;
• Publix; and
• Weight Watchers.

The cookie dough company has refused to release its customer list, but in October a company spokeswoman said none of the 22,000 cases of recalled Aspen Hills cookie dough went to fund-raising customers. She said it all went to commercial food manufacturers.

Aspen Hills Inc.’s website states “daily production capacity is 180,000 lbs. of product.”

“The manufacturing facility in Garner, IA, was designed specifically for large-volume cookie dough manufacturing and boasts housing an onsite freezer capable of storing 15 semi-trailer loads of cookie dough,” according to the Aspen Hills Inc. website.

Blue Bell Creameries discovered contamination
The iconic Brenham, TX-based Blue Bell Creameries discovered Listeria monocytogenes in cookie dough from Aspen Hills Inc. during product testing at one of its production plants in September.

Aspen Hills recalled some cookie dough at that time and launched an in-house investigation. Although the cookie dough producer did not find Listeria in its products or plant, according to a statement issued in October, it did discover food safety “issues,” which spurred company officials to recall cookie dough.

The cookie dough recall notice was not made public, though, going only to the 27 food manufacturing companies that had received Aspen Hills dough produced from July 15 through Sept. 30. All ice cream produced by Aspen Hills during that period is being recalled.

Public urged to self-monitor for symptoms
No illnesses had been reported in connection to any of the recalled cookie dough of recalled products made with it, as of the posting dates of individual recalls. However, symptoms of Listeria infection can take up to 70 days after exposure to develop. Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look, smell or taste bad.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical attention and inform their doctors about the possible exposure to the pathogen.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections In young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy people may suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

For more details on the Aspen Hills cookie dough recall and other product recalls related to it, please see: “Fifth ice cream brand recalled because of cookie dough“

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