New York-based Real Kosher Ice Cream has announced a product recall of its “Soft Serve On The Go” cups in 19 states and the District of Columbia, after two people fell ill from possible exposure to Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
In a Wednesday FDA alert, the company said it was recalling all flavors of its Soft Serve On The Go cups that were produced prior to Aug. 4. The alert was issued after a product sample tested positive for the potentially deadly bacteria, prompting a probe of the product by both the FDA and the manufacturer.
The product, which comes in 8-ounce packages and has six different flavors, may have been purchased at canteens, grocery stores, and convenience stores in 19 states and Washington D.C. According to the FDA alert, the recall is being conducted “out of an abundance of caution” and no deaths have yet been reported.
“Food that contains Listeria monocytogenes organisms can lead to listeriosis, a type of infection which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says causes around 260 deaths annually,” the alert reads. According to the CDC, the infection is most likely to sicken pregnant women and newborns, adults aged 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems.
The outbreak has already caused two reported illnesses; one in New York and one in Pennsylvania. Both victims were hospitalized after eating the Soft Serve On The Go cups.
“At Real Kosher Ice Cream, our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our customers,” the company said on its website Wednesday. “Soft Serve on the Go Cups are manufactured at their own dedicated facility,” the company said, noting no other products are affected by the recall.
Real Kosher Ice Cream has since halted further production and distribution of the product as the investigation continues. Customers of the product are asked to throw away or return the recalled product to their place of purchase. The food-borne illnesses have not yet been linked to any other food products, but individuals should always practice good food hygiene.
This is not the first food product recall due to potential listeria contamination in recent times. Earlier this year, another food manufacturer recalled hundreds of frozen and packaged food items due to similar concerns regarding listeria contamination.
The FDA and Real Kosher Ice Cream are further investigating the cause of the soft serve ice cream cups contamination. For the latest on product recalls and the latest from the investigative process, make sure to follow our recall section.
Real Kosher Ice Cream Recalls Soft Serve on the Go Cups Because of Possible Health Risk https://t.co/K1IXedgSjr pic.twitter.com/hmwyYU9ebW
— U.S. FDA Recalls (@FDArecalls) August 10, 2023
