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Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Multiple brands of frozen waffle products sold by Illinois-based TreeHouse Foods are being pulled from the market after the items were suspected of being contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.
The recall is applicable to frozen waffle products sold under various brand names, including Always Save, Best Choice, Bettergoods, Breakfast Best, Clover Valley, Essentials, Food Lion, FoodHold, Giant Eagle, Good & Gather, Great Value, Hannaford, Harris Teeter, H-E-B Higher Harvest, Kodiak Cakes, Pics by Price Chopper, Publix, Schnucks, SE Grocers, Simple Truth, Tops, Western Family, Great Value, Selection, and Compliments.
While there have been no confirmed reports of any illness linked to these products so far, individuals who consumed the items and are concerned about contracting an illness should get in touch with a health care provider, the firm said.
“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,” according to the announcement.
“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.”
Consumers and retailers can identify withdrawn items by the UPC code on the back of the cartons as well as the Lot Code and “Best By” dates.
“Consumers should check their freezers for any of the products listed above and dispose of them or return the recalled product to the place of purchase for credit,” the announcement said. Those who have queries can contact TreeHouse Foods at 800-596-2903.
Together with the FDA, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was also made aware of the recall.
Some foods that are more likely to be contaminated with Listeria include soft cheeses, raw milk, deli foods, prepared meats, sprouts, melons, and cold-smoked fish.
“This kind of illness is rarely diagnosed because laboratories do not regularly test patient samples for Listeria,” the CDC notes.
The second type is invasive illness in which the bacteria spreads beyond the intestines. Symptoms usually start within two weeks after eating contaminated food. Some people with intestinal illness may end up developing invasive illness.
The CDC recommends people to get in touch with their doctor if they have eaten food that has been recalled or linked to an outbreak or they experience symptoms of Listeria infection.
A doctor “can at least stay in close contact with you to monitor for the development of more concerning signs and symptoms, such as a fever,” Azar said. “So, if, two days later, you develop a fever, a plan would be in place.”
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has put out a list of more than 200 schools that likely received the products under scrutiny.