New Jersey-based Pinnacle Foods Inc. has issued a recall for Aunt Jemima brand frozen waffles, french toast and pancakes over fears that the products may be contaminated with Listeria.
Pinnacle Foods said it began the recall after tests found the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in at least one plant, according to The Associated Press. The recall only applies to frozen products with “best by” dates, and not syrups or dry mixes.
There have been no reported illnesses from the products.
Foods covered in the recall include Aunt Jemima Mini Pancakes, Lil Griddlers Blueberry, along with a variety of french toast, waffle and pancake products. The products were sold across the U.S.
Additionally, Aunt Jemima French Toast & Sausage and Hungry Man Selects Chicken & Waffles are being recalled in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A full list of products and UPCs is posted on the USDA’s website.
Consumers are advised not to eat the recalled foods, and may return the products to the store they purchased them at for a full refund.
Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can cause listeriosis, a potentially fatal infection that can cause fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and a host of other symptoms, according to CNN.
There are around 1,600 reported cases of listeriosis each year, and around 260 of those result in death. Pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are especially susceptible to listeriosis. Pregnant Hispanic women are also 24 times more likely to get the infection than others.
“If you are very ill with fever or stiff neck, consult your doctor immediately,” advises FoodSafety.gov. “Antibiotics given promptly can cure the infection and, in pregnant women, can prevent infection of the fetus.”
Listeriosis can cause also miscarriage and stillbirth in pregnant women. Symptoms of the infection include headache, convulsions and gastrointestinal issues.
To prevent listeriosis, consumers are advised to cook meat thoroughly, clean fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and avoid unpasteurized milk. Listeria is able to grow even in the low temperatures of a refrigerator, and has to be killed by pasteurization or cooking.
FoodSafety.gov advises that listeria can be found in ready-to-eat deli meats, unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses made with it, raw sprouts and refrigerated seafood.
In March, Vulto Creamery in Walton, New York, announced a recall of several of its soft raw milk cheeses. Six cases of the illness were reported in four states, with two people dying from the outbreak.
In 2016, CRF Frozen Foods recalled all of its frozen vegetable and fruit products over a listeria outbreak. The outbreak left nine people hospitalized and one dead from listeriosis.
Sources: AP via WKRG, CNN, FoodSafety.gov / Photo credit: Shou-Hui Wang/Flickr
