Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams has issued a recall of all its products on the market due to a possible Listeria contamination.
The Ohio-based ice cream company made the announcement on Thursday through its website and Twitter account, stating that it is voluntary recalling all of its ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream sandwich products.
In the official statement, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams said there could be a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination in its products after the Nebraska Department of Agriculture discovered traces of the bacteria in a random sample.
While the company has yet to receive reports of any illness related to the products, it has decided to issue the product recall as part of its precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the consumers.
"Our top priority is guaranteeing the safety of all consumers by taking every possible precaution," John Lowe, CEO of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, said.
"We have decided to recall everything currently on retailer shelves, and we are closing our scoop shops until we are 100 percent confident every item we sell is safe. We have called in experts to help us find the root cause. We will be working with our suppliers to determine if the bacteria [were] introduced by one of the ingredients we use. We will not reopen the kitchen until we can ensure the safety of our customers."
The product recall comes days after Blue Bell Creameries of Texas issued its own recall following a similar Listeria contamination in its ice cream products. The group is now being linked to three deaths.
According to Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, all of its 21 stores will remain closed until it can ensure that its products are safe for consumption. Majority of these stores are located in Columbus, while the rest are in Chagrin Falls and Cleveland in Ohio; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Chicago; Charleston, South Carolina; and Nashville, Tennessee.
The ice cream company urged customers who were able to buy the recalled products to dispose of them properly or return them to the store where they bought them for a full refund.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams was founded in Columbus in 2002 by author and entrepreneur Jeni Britton Bauer.
Photo: Arnold Gatilao | Flickr
