Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is advising consumers not to consume any Wilcox Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt, and Gelato products with “best by” dates of 9/13/24-11/14/24 produced by Wilcox Ice Cream in East Arlington, Vermont, as they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
The complete list of products the company is voluntarily recalling can be found on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website. All products are packaged in various sizes. Consumers should refrain from eating these products.
“Listeriosis can cause serious health concerns,” said Patricia Tilley, Director of the DHHS Division of Public Health Services (DPHS). “Foods that are contaminated may not look, smell, or taste any different, so there is no way to tell if Listeria is present. The Division of Public Health Services is recommending that consumers, restaurants, and retailers check their freezers and throw away recalled products or return to the place of purchase for a full refund.”
The recalled SUPER PREMIUM Products are packaged in yellow containers. The Premium Products are packaged in containers that picture an ice cream truck. The Leonardo’s Gelato is packaged with the Leonardo’s logo. The yogurt products are packaged in a beige container that says Wilcox Yogurt. The ice cream bars are packaged individually in clear plastic wrap with a sticker. Best by dates for all products can be found either on the sticker or on the side of the packaging.
Wilcox Ice Cream is sold at food establishments in New England, including Hanover Co-Op Food Store, Lebanon Co-Op Food Store, and the Monadnock Food Co-Op in New Hampshire. DHHS will provide updates if additional New Hampshire distribution locations are identified.
The original recall was initiated after a sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes in the DPHS Public Health Laboratory. A subsequent investigation by Wilcox revealed that the ice cream mix used to make its products may be contaminated. No illnesses have been reported to date.
Wilcox Ice Cream is cooperating with state officials.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, frail or elderly people, pregnant women, and others with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. The bacteria can also spread from the gut to other parts of the body and cause serious and invasive infection, including in the nervous system, leading to symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions. Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics, so anyone who suspects they may have the illness should contact their healthcare provider.
For a full refund, consumers may take a picture of the top and sides of the container showing the best by date and email Wilcox Ice Cream at AR@wilcoxicecreamvt.com. Consumers should include the photos of the product, quantity, location of purchase, and their full name, address, and telephone number.
For questions about listeriosis, contact DPHS at 603-271-4496. For more information about listeriosis, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website. For more information about the recall, visit the FDA website.
