Urgent recall of over 100,000 ice cream bars for ‘serious’ health risk

More than 100,000 ice cream bars sold across the US have been recalled over fears of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Rich Ice Cream Co voluntarily recalled 10 of its flavors sold in 23 states. They include Chocolate Crunch Cake Bar, Strawberry Shortcake Bar, Rich Bar, Crumbled Cookie Bar, Orange Cream Bar, Fudge Frenzy Bar, Cotton Candy Twirl Bar, Savagely Sour BlueRasberry Bar, Savagely Sour Cherry Bar and Cool Watermelon Bar. (Picture: Getty Images)

A total of 110,292 cases of the different flavors are under the recall. The bars were all individually packaged in plastic bags and came in four-packs. They have a lot number of 24351 through 25156. The best by or expiration date was not clear. (Picture: Rich Ice Cream Co)

The affected ice cream bars were sold in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. They were also sent to Nassau in the Bahamas. The recall is ongoing. (Picture: Getty Images)

Rich Ice Cream Co, which is based in West Palm Beach, Florida, initiated the recall on June 27. The nation's agency responsible for protecting public health designated it as a Class II recall on July 17. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines a Class II recall as 'a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote'. (Picture: Rich Ice Cream Co)

Listeria monocytogenes is a disease-causing bacteria that thrives in unsanitary food production sites and can survive and grow in refrigeration, according to the FDA. It can contaminate food and cause people to develop listeriosis. People with severe, life-threatening listeriosis cases may experience convulsions, stiff neck, confusion, headache and balance loss, and the non-invasive form can cause symptoms including diarrhoea, fever, muscle aches and nausea. (Picture: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

The company did not provide specific instructions around the recall, including how customers can get a refund. But customers should not eat ice cream bars of those flavors to avoid the risk of getting sick. Anyone with questions should contact Rich Ice Cream Co. (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It comes after several other sweet foods have been recalled in the US recently. Dark chocolate-covered almonds sold at Meijer stores in six states were recalled in June because they could contain another nut that was not declared on labels. Also in June, American Jolly Rancher hard candies and gummies were recalled in the UK because they were deemed not to be compliant with local law. (Picture: Getty Images)