Just as many Americans reach for their favorite frozen desserts to beat the summer heat, a major ice cream recall is sending up red flags.
Rich’s Ice Cream, a Florida-based brand, is pulling back more than 100,000 bars across 23 U.S. states and even the Bahamas over fears of listeria contamination.
Why the Recall Happened and What It Means
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that a total of 110,292 cases of individually packaged ice cream bars are now under recall.
The initial action started on June 27, but on July 17, it was officially upgraded to a Class II recall—meaning the product could cause temporary or medically reversible health problems.
That’s a serious classification, and while no illnesses have been confirmed so far, the recall remains active and ongoing.
So if you’ve bought frozen treats recently, it’s time to double-check your freezer.
Which States Are Affected by the Recall?
According to the FDA, the affected ice cream bars were shipped to the following states:
Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
They were also distributed to Nassau in the Bahamas, expanding the concern beyond the mainland U.S.
What Lot Numbers Should You Look Out For?
If you’re wondering whether the frozen dessert in your freezer is one of the recalled items, check the Lot Numbers #24351 through #25156.
If any of your products match those numbers, the FDA advises you to throw them away immediately.
These Are the Recalled Ice Cream Bar Flavors
Here’s the list of specific ice cream bar flavors and names involved in the recall:
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Chocolate Crunch Cake Bar
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Strawberry Shortcake Bar
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Rich Bar
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Crumbled Cookie Bar
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Orange Cream Bar
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Fudge Frenzy Bar
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Cotton Candy Twirl Bar
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Savagely Sour Blue Raspberry Bar
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Savagely Sour Cherry Bar
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Cool Watermelon Bar
If you recognize any of those in your recent grocery haul, it’s best to play it safe.
What Is Listeria and Why Is It Dangerous?
The concern centers around listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can lead to listeriosis—a potentially serious infection.
While healthy people may only experience short-term symptoms, the risk is significantly higher for pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms of listeriosis can include:
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Headaches
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Fever
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Confusion or altered mental status
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Trouble walking
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Seizures
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Muscle aches and fatigue
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Stiff neck
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Flu-like symptoms
These can appear anywhere from a few days up to two weeks after eating contaminated food.
What You Should Do Next
If you’ve purchased any of the listed ice cream bars recently, check your freezer right away.
The safest move is to discard any product with a matching lot number and avoid consuming it altogether.
For more detailed information, customers are encouraged to visit Rich’s Ice Cream’s official website, where they’ve provided guidance on identifying affected products and how to respond.