Hundreds of frozen waffles have been recalled due possibly containing the deadly bug listeria.
Illinois-based TreeHouse Foods Inc said Tuesday that it has expanded an earlier recall to include all frozen toaster waffles, Belgian waffles and pancakes made at a factory in Ontario.
Affected products were sold at Albertson’s, Aldi, Dollar General, Kroger, Publix, Target, Walmart, and others, the FDA reported.
Some of the items include Best Choice 12.3oz Chocolate Chip Waffles, Clover Valley 12.3oz Buttermilk Waffles, Tops 12.3oz Blueberry Waffles, Good and Gather 12.3oz Homestyle Waffles, Good and Gather 12.3oz Buttermilk Waffles, Great Value 12.3oz Homestyle Waffles and Great Value 12.3oz Buttermilk Waffles.
No listeria illnesses have been confirmed.
Good and Gather 12.3oz Homestyle and Blueberry waffles are two of the products recalled
Great Value 12.3oz Buttermilk Waffles have also been recalled
The update comes days after TreeHouse officials issued the initial recall after routine testing found listeria at the factory.
As of last week, 500 waffles had been recalled.
The company said Tuesday that production at the factory has been halted and that it will restart after taking steps that include ‘deep cleaning, sanitation, hygienic restoration’ and other procedures.
No other plants have been affected, officials said.
Listeria, also called Listeriosis, is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
It can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive refrigeration and other food preservation measures.
Many foods can harbor the bug, but it is usually found in unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses and ready-to-eat foods, such as prepacked sandwiches. Cooked shellfish, cured meats and fish including sushi and pre-cut fruit are also a risk.
Kodiak’s Power Waffles Dark Chocolate were recalled. The brand also recalled its Vanilla flavor last month due to potential choking hazards
Most people who eat food contaminated with Listeria will not fall seriously ill. But in some cases, it can cause confusion and seizures, miscarriage in pregnant women, and even death.
This can happen when the infection spreads beyond the gut and can affect the central nervous system, which can lead to numbness and seizures.
The CDC estimates that 1,600 Americans become infected with listeria every year, and about 260 die.
Kodiak, one of the affected products, also recalled its Power Waffles Buttermilk & Vanilla ‘due to the potential presence of soft plastic film’ last month.
