Not cool: Possible Listeria contamination triggers recall of multiple Totally Cool ice cream, frozen dairy products

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health Food and Drug Branch is alerting the public about the recall by Totally Cool Inc. of several ice cream and frozen dairy products because of a potential Listeria contamination.

The products include Abilyn’s Frozen Bakery ice cream cakes, Jeni’s frozen dessert sandwiches and Marco ice cream sandwiches and ice cream pints. They were sold throughout the United States, and might have been available at supermarkets including Safeway and Whole Foods in Hawaiʻi.

A complete list of recalled products can be found here.

Listeria-contaminated food contains the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Eating these foods can cause listeriosis, a serious and sometimes fatal infection, which primarily affects pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and others with weakened immune systems.

Listeriosis can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Healthy individuals can suffer symptoms such as fever, severe headache, muscle aches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and or diarrhea.

Although people can develop listeriosis up to 2 months after eating contaminated food, symptoms will usually start within several days after consumption, often with diarrhea. Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics.

Contact your health care provider immediately if you are experiencing symptoms after eating any of the recalled products.

Fortunately, to date, there have been no reports of illness or adverse events attributed to the recalled foods.

The state Health Department’s Food and Drug Branch advises consumers to check if they have any of the recalled products and return them to the place where they were purchased for a full refund.

Consumers who purchased the products can contact Totally Cool Inc. at 410-363-7801 from 2 to 10 Monday through Friday or by emailing regulatory@tottallycoolicecream.com for additional information.