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Big Olaf was recently under fire for their ice cream products, which resulted in an outbreak that has infected almost two dozen individuals across ten states.
The Food and Drug Administration has announced that all flavors and products from this brand are being pulled out due to the incident.
The FDA has estimated that two lives were lost due to their negligence, an adult and a fetus. Additionally, 22 people ended up in hospitals.
“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.
Florida, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania are some of where cases were reported.
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CDC encourages companies that sell ice cream to “clean and disinfect any areas and equipment that may have touched” the withdrawn products, “including ice cream scoops and other serving utensils.”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 in Florida has stopped production and distribution following an outbreak of foodborne illness. The Department for Agriculture and Consumer Services conducted a probe into the situation.
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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 numerous stores throughout Florida, with 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.
As per Moffet, the police are working with other state and federal agencies on this probe.
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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Opinions expressed by Influencer Daily contributors are their own.
