A second ice cream company has shut down production after health officials found listeria in a sample of its frozen treats. Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams of Ohio said on its website that it recalled all its frozen products after the discovery. The action follows a similar shutdown by Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries on Monday. The recalls are uncommon: Listeria isn't usually found in ice cream, since the bacteria can't grow at freezing temperatures. A spokesman for the Food and Drug Administration says it has no evidence, for now, that the listeria found in Jeni's ice cream and the listeria found in Blue Bell ice cream are connected, and the CDC says there are no known illnesses linked to Jeni's products.
In an online statement, Jeni's said it is recalling all products bearing the brand name "Jeni's," including ice creams, frozen yogurts, sorbets, and ice cream sandwiches, as well as closing retail stores until its products are "ensured to be 100% safe." The Nebraska Department of Agriculture found the listeria in a sample of Jeni's ice cream it had randomly collected at a Whole Foods in Lincoln, Neb. "We will be working with our suppliers to determine if the bacteria was introduced by one of the ingredients we use," says John Lowe, the company's CEO. "We will not reopen the kitchen until we can ensure the safety of our customers." (More listeria stories.)