The Florida Health Department said Big Olaf Creamery is recalling its products amid an investigation into a multistate listeria outbreak that has killed at least one person.
On Friday, the department shared a news article saying Big Olaf, based in Sarasota, had agreed to recall its products. A department representative said Big Olaf agreed Friday to stop production and conduct a recall.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the products were being investigated for causing a listeria outbreak that has been linked to at least one death and at least 22 hospitalizations. The agency tweeted Friday that Americans should avoid consuming Big Olaf products and throw them out if they own any.
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune also reported Monday that Big Olaf Creamery stores that continued to sell the company’s ice cream even after it was linked to the outbreak had temporarily closed as they worked to return possibly affected products.
“They stopped production and they’re having retailers return the product to the production facility,” a Health Department spokesperson told the newspaper.
Big Olaf's website lists 15 retail locations in Florida.
According to the CDC, five people linked to the outbreak became ill during their pregnancies, and one person’s illness resulted in fetal loss. The death of one person who was not pregnant was reported in Illinois. The CDC notes that listeria infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
Big Olaf could not be reached for comment. On July 3, it posted a statement on Facebook saying any links to its products were speculation in an ongoing investigation.
