It was more tricks than treats for dairy processors in December. Or, to use a more seasonal analogy, Santa left a lump of coal in the Christmas stockings of cheese and ice cream makers.Among the recalls announced by the Food and Drug Administration are:
Pink’s Ice Cream, Seattle, on Dec. 30 recalled all ice cream flavors produced in 2014 with the exception of Coconut Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,
Bleating Heart Cheese, Tomales, Calif., on Dec. 30 said it is expanding its voluntary recall notice of Dec. 17 to cover all of its sheep’s milk, goat’s milk, water buffalo milk and cow’s milk cheese produced between Feb. 14 (coded as 14–0214) and Sept. 19 (coded as 14-0919) due to an abundance of caution concerning the possibility of Listeria monocytogenes being present in some cheese. No illnesses have been reported.
Great Feeling Foods, Portland, Ore., issued a voluntary recall on Dec. 29 of all Groove Gluten-free Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches produced between May 16 and Dec. 20. These products contain custard ice cream base produced and recalled by Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream (see below) as an ingredient. This custard ice cream base has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses related to the products have been reported.
Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream, Snohomish, Wash., on Dec. 24 issued a voluntary recall of all ice cream, gelato, custard and sorbet for all flavors and container sizes produced on or after Jan. 1 until Dec. 15 because these products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The ice cream, gelato, custard and sorbet were distributed in Arizona, Idaho, California, Oregon, and Washington may have been further distributed and sold in various retail outlets in Alaska, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
Farm Country Cheese House, Lakeview Mich., recalled 1,136.53 pounds of Raw Milk Cheddar on Dec. 24 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported to date.
On Dec. 11, Flat Creek Farm & Dairy, Swainsboro, Ga., recalled three lots of cheese with lot codes 140802XAZ (Aztec Cheddar), 140702XAZ (Low Country Gouda voluntary recall) and 140725XGO (Aztec Cheddar voluntary recall) because of potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported.
Global Garlic, Miami, recalled De Mi Pais products on Dec. 9 . because of potential contamination with Listeria Monocytogenes. The cheeses were Cuajada Fresca (Fresh Curd, 12 ounces) and Cuajada Olanchana (Fresh Curd, 12 ounces).
On Dec. 5, the Pleasanton, Calif.-based grocery store chain Safeway voluntarily recalled Safeway Select French Salted Caramel (Fleur De Sel) premium ice cream sold in all Safeway-owned stores from Nov. 4 to Dec. 5 due to the inclusion of an undeclared peanut allergen. No illnesses or injuries have been reported. The recipe’s caramel cups ingredient was replaced with peanut butter cups due to a supply error.
House of Flavors, Ludington, Mich., on Dec. 1 recalled Ciao Bella Dark Cocoa Sorbetto because its ingredients may include an undeclared dairy allergen.
Source: Food and Drug Administration, compiled by Dairy Foods