A frozen waffle company that previously recalled several of its brands' products has now expanded the move to cover all of its waffle and pancakes.
The company, TreeHouse Foods, voluntarily recalled 25 of its brands' frozen waffle products earlier this week due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that the recall has been expanded to cover "frozen toaster waffle, Belgian waffle and pancake products" from 24 more brands.
The new brands included in the expanded recall are:
- 365 Organic
- Brookshire's
- Central Market
- Culinary Tours
- Duncan Hines
- Full Circle
- Gordon Choice
- Gordon Food Service
- H-E-B
- Irresistibles Life Smart
- Kroger
- Krusteaz
- Nature's Basket
- Nature's Path Organic
- Nature's Promise
- O Organics
- Presidents Choice
- Private Selection
- Signature Select
- Simple Truth Organic
- Trader Joe's
- Wegmans
- Wild Harvest
- Yelloh
"This recall was expanded based on additional testing at the manufacturing facility," the FDA explained in a statement.
The original brands in the initial recall included:
- Always Save
- Best Choice
- Bettergoods
- Breakfast Best
- Compliments
- Clover Valley
- Essentials
- Food Lion
- Foodhold
- Giant Eagle
- Good & Gather
- Great Value
- Hannaford
- Harris Teeter
- H-E-B Higher Harvest
- Kodiak Cakes
- No Name
- Pics By Price Chopper
- Publix
- Schnucks
- Se Grocers
- Selection
- Simple Truth
- Tops
- Western Family
The recalled products were distributed across all U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and were being sold in stores including, but not limited to, Albertson's, Aldi, Dollar General, Foodhold, HEB, Kroger, Publix, Target, and Walmart. Customers are advised to check if they have any of the affected products in their freezers, and if so, to dispose of them or return them to where they bought them.
"Consumers and retailers can identify the UPC on the back of the carton, and the Lot Code and Best By Date for these products (ranging from 12 to 18 months, depending on the product) on the end of the carton," the FDA advised. "All Lot Codes in scope of this recall will begin with 2C."
None of the products have been connected to any illness to date, but the FDA urges customers to contact a healthcare provider if they are concerned.
"TreeHouse Foods has expanded its voluntary recall to now include all griddle products manufactured at our Brantford, Ontario, Canada, facility. The frozen toaster waffle, Belgian waffle and pancake products are being recalled due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. We have no confirmed reports of illness or injury linked to the recalled products," a spokesperson for Treehouse Foods previously told Newsweek.
"We are working with our retail customers to retrieve and destroy the recalled products, and encourage consumers to check their freezers for any of the products subject to the recall and dispose of them, or return them to the place of purchase for a refund."
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can infect people who eat contaminated foods, such as soft cheeses, raw milk, deli meats, pâté, cold-smoked fish, spouts and melons. Food may be contaminated with the bacteria at food processing facilities, and Listeria monocytogenes can survive and grow even in food kept in the refrigerator.
"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," the FDA explained in the statement. Healthy individuals may suffer only 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."
Listeria infection causes about 1,600 infections and 260 deaths across the U.S. every year, making it the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about recalls? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
English (US) ·