For the second time, Listeria contamination is a problem for Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams’ manufacturers. The first recall of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams was in 2015 after the bacteria was found in Jeni’s production facility. Jeni’s issued a voluntary recall and was out of business for some time. This recent concern began in January 2016 […]
For the second time, Listeria contamination is a problem for Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams’ manufacturers. The first recall of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams was in 2015 after the bacteria was found in Jeni’s production facility. Jeni’s issued a voluntary recall and was out of business for some time. This recent concern began in January 2016 when Listeria was found in Jeni’s Michigan Avenue manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a letter dated August 9, 2016 after finding the presence of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) in the facility.
Two positive samples were found in the vicinity where Jeni’s was manufacturing the base for its Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso ice cream. At that time, the FDA took 75 samples.
The FDA continued to detail two “significant” violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods. An FDA investigator allegedly noted “a dust-like material” accumulating in the dish room at the same time that Buttermilk Yogurt base, Brambleberry Crisp base, and Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso base, were being made, reports NBC4i.com.
Several days ago, Jeni’s released a blog post to say it tests every batch of ice cream for Listeria to ensure it is safe. However, according to Food Safety News, the FDA letter told Jeni’s, “The evidence demonstrates that L. monocytogenes has maintained its presence within your production facility since 2015. The reoccurring presence of an identical strain of L. monocytogenes in your environment indicates a resident strain or niche harborage site present in the facility.”
Infection with Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis and can be hazardous to young children, elderly people, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Healthy people may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Pregnant women, though, may suffer miscarriages or stillbirths, according to Food Safety News.
