Ice cream recall: Bars sold in 23 states including Alabama pose listeria risk
The Food and Drug Administration Authority (FDA) announced July 17 that Florida-based Rich's Ice Cream Co. is recalling select products due to potential listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The recall, which impacts lot number 24351 through lot 25156 was initiated on June 27, according to the FDA notice and is classified as Class II with a total of 110,292 cases potentially affected. A Class II recall is "a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote," the FDA website states.
USA TODAY was unable to reach Rich's Ice Cream for comment on July 21.
Which Rich Ice Cream products are included in the recall? See list
The affected products, sold in multiple states, according to the FDA advisory, include:
Chocolate Crunch Cake Bars
Strawberry Shortcake Bars, Rich Bars
Crumbled Cookie Bars
Orange Cream Bars
Fudge Frenzy Bars
Cotton Candy Twirl Bars
Savagely Sour Blue Raspberry Bars
Savagely Sour Cherry Bars
Cool Watermelon Bars
The frozen treats were individually packaged in plastic bags and sold in master cases.
In Alabama: First Watch plans for dozens of new restaurants in 2025. Here's what to know in Alabama
Which states are impacted by the recall? See list
The affected products were distributed across 23 states, according to the FDA notice, including:
Arizona
Alabama
Ohio
California
Pennsylvania
Georgia
New York
New Jersey
Florida
Texas
Virginia
Illinois
Missouri
Massachusetts
Tennessee
Iowa
South Carolina
Oregon
Oklahoma
Nevada
Louisiana
Wisconsin
Nebraska
They were also sold in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas.
More: Waffle House drops egg surcharge: Are egg prices going down? What to know in Alabama
What should you do if you purchased the affected products?
FDA and Rich Ice Cream Co. have not yet specified what remedies are available for customers. Rich Ice Cream Co. did not immediately reply to USA TODAY's request for a statement and more information on the recall.
Customers, meanwhile, can visit Rich Ice Cream Co.'s website for more information and to contact the company.
Listeria poisoning symptoms
Listeriosis, or listeria poisoning, is a foodborne bacterial infection most commonly caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is considered a serious condition and can be dangerous or life-threatening, especially to older adults, people with weak immune systems, and pregnant women.
Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., according to the CDC. The agency estimates that the disease impacts 1,600 Americans each year, with approximately 260 people dying from those infections.
Symptoms include, per the CDC:
Fever
Muscle aches
Headache
Stiff neck
Confusion
Loss of balance
Convulsions
Diarrhea
Other gastrointestinal symptoms
Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and/or life-threatening infection of newborn infants
Death
People in higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care.
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rich's Ice Cream recalls 100,000 ice cream bars, including in Alabama
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