DOZENS of ice cream products have been recalled over fears they are contaminated with listeria.
The bacteria can cause serious infections, triggering a fever, aches, pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
In rare cases, the illness, known as listeriosis, can be severe and result in meningitis – inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.
Around 260 people die from listeriosis every year in the US.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that around 70 ice cream products from 13 different brands could be affected.
These were distributed nationally and were available in shops and via direct delivery.
No illnesses have so far been reported, but customers should not eat them, officials said.
Instead, they should dispose of them safely or return them to their nearest store for a full refund.
The manufacturer, Totally Cool Inc, has ceased production and distribution of these items.
A spokesperson for the FDA said: “Totally Cool Inc, of Owings Mills, Maryland, is recalling multiple brands of ice cream products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
“Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
“Product can be identified by comparing the date and plant information on the product.
“The company continues its investigation and is taking preventive actions.
“No other products produced by Totally Cool Inc are impacted by this recall.”
The affected products have ‘best before‘ dates between May 20, 2024 and May 28, 2025, and codes 24-65, 24-0065, 2465, 240065.
The affected cakes have product codes between 2305140 and 2405170, cones between 3174 and 4047, and 2307187 to 2406163 for sandwiches.
The affected products have ‘best before’ dates between May 20, 2024 and May 28, 2025.
Potentially-contaminated sandwiches from the brand have a ‘best before’ date between February 23, 2025 to December 21, 2025, while it is July 25, 2024 to January 27, 2025 for pints.
The plant code for all products is 24-65, 24-0065.
The warning applies to cones with codes between 6T3227 and 6T4157 and sandwiches with codes 6T3115 to 6T4171.
Products with a ‘best before’ date between November 24, 2024 to October 10, 2025 – and the plant code 24-65 – should not be eaten.
The affected products have ‘best before’ dates between May 20, 2024 to May 20, 2025 – with the plant code 24-65.
The alert applies to products with a ‘best before’ date of October 1, 2025 and the plant code 24-65.
Products with the following ‘best before’ dates could be unsafe to eat: March 28, 2024; March 29, 2024; March 30, 2024; May 1, 2025; May 2, 2025, May 3, 2025; May 4, 2025; June 1, 2025; June 24, 2025; June 28, 2025; June 29, 2025; June 30, 2025; July 28, 2025; August 28, 2025; August 31, 2025; September 5, 2025.
The affected codes are: 2311324; 2311325; 2311326; 2311331; 2311332; 2311333; 2311334; 2401031; 2401032; 2401033; 2401036; 2401037; 2401038; 2401039; 2401040; 2402043; 2402044; 2402057; 2402058; 402059; 2403085; 2403086; 2403087; 2403088; 2404120; 2404121; 2405142; 2406158; 2406159.
The affected sandwiches have the ‘best before’ date November 28, 2025, while for pints, it is between June 7, 2024 to December 11, 2025.
Product codes for both are 2312341 to 2406163, with the plant code 2465.
The affected sandwiches have ‘best before’ dates between September 4, 2025 and July 12, 2025, but it’s September 5, 2025 to July 30, 2026 for pints. Both have the plant code 24-65.
The warning applies to products with a ‘best before’ date of November 30, 2024 and April 12, 2025.
The affected products have ‘best before’ dates between July 24, 2025 and May 23, 2026, with codes 23205 to 24144.
LISTERIA is a type of bacteria that can contaminate many foods.
It can cause listeriosis – a rare infection from consuming affected foods.
This usually goes away on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill.
Symptoms include a high temperature, aches, pains, chills, vomiting, feeling sick, and diarrhoea.
If you’re pregnant, you may also have a stomach ache or notice your baby moving less than usual, and babies with listeriosis may be irritable and feed less than usual.
In rare cases, the infection can result in meningitis – inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.
This kills up to half of all people affected if left untreated, Doctors Without Borders says.
Listeriosis is more serious for older people, anyone who is pregnant, newborn babies, people with weakened immune systems (such as those with cancer, diabetes, liver disease or kidney disease), and people having treatment which weakens their immune system (like chemotherapy or steroids).
You can reduce your risk by:
The foods most likely to cause listeriosis include:
While uncommon, listeriosis alone illness kills one in five patients globally, according to the World Health Organization.
Source: NHS
Listeria is far less common than salmonella and E. coli, but it can be much more dangerous.
Most healthy immune systems can keep an infection at bay, but if the bug makes it into the bloodstream, it sparks listeriosis, which kills one in five patients worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Some people are more vulnerable, including those who are pregnant, over-65s, newborn babies and people with weakened immune systems.
They are at increased risk of falling seriously ill, miscarriage, stillbirth, sepsis, and meningitis, the NHS warns.
