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Big Olaf has been under fire for their ice cream products, which resulted in an outbreak that infected almost two dozen individuals across ten states.
The Food and Drug Administration has told the company to stop all product production and sales until they can be proven safe.
The FDA has estimated that two people died as well as 22 hospitalizations due to this product.
“Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC and the [Florida Department of Health], Big Olaf ice cream products are a likely source of illness in this outbreak,” the FDA stated, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the FDA, all “flavors, lots, codes, and expiration dates through 6/30/2022 are included in this recall.” However, it is recommended that consumers and retailers should junk the product, no matter the “best buy” or expiration date.
The following states reported cases of this terrible disease: Florida, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The CDC encourages companies that sell ice cream to “clean and disinfect any areas and equipment that may have touched” the withdrawn products, “including ice cream scoops and other serving utensils.”
The Big Olaf Creamery was forced to stop production and distribution of its ice cream following an outbreak investigation by the Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services.
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In its recall announcement, the company said it is “cooperating fully with regulatory authorities to successfully return all suspected products and has requested retailers to stop sales and dispose of product.”
Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota has stores all over Florida and distributes to retailers throughout the state. The brand also operates one Ohio location.
“The results from product sampling taken from the Big Olaf production facility last week by [the department] found that 16 of the 17 flavors tested were positive for Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono),” said a spokesperson for the Florida agriculture agency, Erin Moffet.
The Big Olaf ice cream flavor where listeria was discovered in product samples, according to the Florida agency, are:
- Blueberry Cheesecake
- Butter Pecan
- Cherry Cordial
- Chocolate
- Chocolate Chip
- Coconut
- Coconut Almond Joy
- Cookie Dough
- Cookies & Cream
- Kahlua Krunch
- Mint Chip
- Pistachio
- Plantation Praline
- Superman
- Vanilla
- White Chocolate Raspberry
“With these results, FDACS is currently issuing formal stop sales on the 16 products where [Listeria] was found, which were previously part of a voluntary recall,” Moffet stated.
The department is working with other state and federal agencies on an ongoing probe, said Moffet.
Listeria can result in life-threatening and potentially fatal conditions for vulnerable populations, such as those who are young, immunosuppressed, and elderly. Short-term symptoms in healthy individuals are high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, the FDA said.
Listeria conditions can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths.
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