Rich Ice Cream Co. is recalling more than 110,292 cases of its popular ice cream bars due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on July 17. The affected products include a range of flavours such as Chocolate Crunch Cake Bars, Strawberry Shortcake Bars, and Rich Bars, among others.
The recall covers packages with lot numbers 24351 through 25156. The ice cream bars were distributed across 23 US states, including Alabama, California, Florida, New York, and Texas, as well as in Nassau, Bahamas. Consumers are urged not to eat the products and to dispose of them immediately.
The FDA has classified the recall as Class II, meaning that exposure to the product is unlikely to cause adverse health consequences. However, Listeria infection can cause serious illness, particularly in vulnerable groups, and is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the US, killing around 260 people annually.
This recall follows other frozen treat recalls this summer. In June, Unilever voluntarily recalled 6,668 cases of Breyers Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream due to mislabelling and undeclared allergens. In May, Wells Dairy recalled over 17,000 tubs of ice cream and frozen yogurt due to possible plastic contamination.
Additionally, on July 17, Reser's Fine Foods recalled a dozen tuna salad products over listeria concerns, affecting stores in several states. The FDA advised consumers to clean and sanitise any surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled tuna products.
