Listeria outbreak may be connected to ice cream sold in North Carolina, FDA says

The US Food and Drug Administration, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials are investigating a multistate Listeria outbreak that may be connected with Soft Serve On The Go ice cream cups, the FDA said Thursday.

Two people have gotten sick, and both were hospitalized. Both said they had eaten Soft Serve On The Go vanilla chocolate ice cream cups, made by Brooklyn-based Real Kosher Ice Cream.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture was able to collect an unopened serving of the ice cream at the home of one of the patients, and it tested positive for the bacteria that causes a listeria infection. Investigators are running genetic tests to determine whether this is from the same strain of Listeria that's causing the illnesses.

The FDA says Real Kosher has recalled all its ice cream and sorbet flavors in the 8-ounce cups. Real Kosher has also temporarily shut down production of the product.

Consumers who have any of the products in their freezers should throw the products away or return them to the point of purchase for a full refund.

The ice cream is sold in 19 states - California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia - and the District of Columbia. It's also distributed to the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Belgium.

The products can be bought at grocery stores and convenience stores, but they are also sold to institutions like nursing homes, schools, camps and long-term care facilities, the CDC says.

People who get sick with a Listeria infection can develop a fever. They may get sick to their stomach and have muscle aches, a headache, stiff neck, loss of balance and confusion, and they could go into convulsions or die. People who are most at risk of a severe infection include those who are pregnant, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. For people who are pregnant, a Listeria infection can cause a pregnancy loss or premature birth.

The FDA asks consumers who want to report a complaint, an illness or a severe reaction to reach out to an FDA consumer complaint coordinator, fill out a MedWatch form online or mail in a MedWatch form. The company says customers can also call 845-668-4346 or email info@softserveonthego.com.

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