A wide-ranging recall of frozen waffle products has been announced across the United States and Canada due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness. TreeHouse Foods, Inc., the Illinois-based food processing company behind several popular waffle brands, voluntarily initiated the recall as a precautionary measure following routine testing at its manufacturing facility. No illnesses have been reported to date, but the recall is being undertaken to ensure consumer safety.
The recall impacts dozens of frozen waffle products produced under multiple brand names, including Kodiak Cakes, Publix, Food Lion, Walmart's Great Value, and Target's Good & Gather. The recalled waffles were distributed widely across North America, with affected products including various flavors such as blueberry, chocolate chip, pumpkin, buttermilk, multigrain, and protein waffles. Consumers are advised to check their freezers for any recalled products and either dispose of them or return them to the store for a refund.
"Consumers and retailers can identify the recalled products by the UPC code on the back of the carton and the Lot Code and Best By Date on the end of the carton," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement. The FDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have both been alerted to the recall, and the affected products have been listed on their respective websites.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that poses a significant health risk, especially to vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. It is known for its ability to thrive in cold environments, such as refrigerators and freezers, which makes it particularly challenging to eradicate from food production facilities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, infecting approximately 1,600 people each year and resulting in around 260 fatalities.
Symptoms of listeriosis, the infection caused by listeria, can vary but often include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal distress. In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the nervous system, leading to complications such as meningitis or encephalitis. Pregnant women are particularly at risk, as listeriosis can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, or severe infections in newborns.
TreeHouse Foods emphasized the importance of consumer safety in its announcement, urging individuals to take action if they possess any of the recalled products. "We are taking every precaution to ensure that the affected products are removed from circulation, and we encourage consumers to follow recall instructions for their safety," the company said in a press release.
The recall comes at a time when foodborne illness outbreaks linked to listeria have been making headlines. In late July, more than 7.2 million pounds of Boar's Head deli meats were recalled due to potential listeria contamination, and more recently, the ready-to-eat meat and poultry producer BrucePac recalled over 11.7 million pounds of product for similar concerns. Listeria's resilience in food processing environments means that any indication of contamination can lead to widespread recalls to prevent potential health risks.
The frozen waffles under recall include a variety of well-known store brands and independent labels, such as Always Save, Best Choice, Breakfast Best, Giant Eagle, Hannaford, Harris Teeter, H-E-B Higher Harvest, Schnucks, Simple Truth, Tops, and Western Family, among others. Consumers are urged to consult the detailed list of affected products published by the FDA to verify whether any items in their freezers are part of the recall.
The FDA recommends that individuals who find the recalled products in their possession should not consume them and should either throw them away or return them to the store from which they were purchased. "Consumers who have any of the recalled frozen waffles should not eat them and should immediately take steps to remove them from their homes," the agency stated.
Listeria contamination remains a significant challenge for the food industry, primarily because of the bacterium's ability to survive and even grow in cold conditions. Routine testing at the TreeHouse Foods facility detected the presence of the bacteria, prompting the recall of potentially affected products to prevent any possible harm. The company has expressed its commitment to cooperating with regulatory authorities and ensuring all safety protocols are thoroughly followed.
The frozen waffle recall has brought renewed attention to food safety practices and the importance of stringent monitoring in food processing. "Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections," the FDA emphasized. "Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms, but for those with compromised immune systems, the impact can be much more severe."
