Frozen waffles recalled: Check your freezer for these brands

Frozen waffles distributed throughout the US and Canada are being recalled for possible Listeria contamination. No illnesses have been reported. Here’s what to look for and what to do if you have purchased recalled products. 

On October 18, 2024, TreeHouse Foods voluntarily recalled a number of frozen waffle products sold at major retailers in the US and Canada. Routine testing at the manufacturing facility revealed Listeria contamination of some finished products. No illnesses have been reported.  

The recalled products: What to look for

TreeHouse Foods manufactures products that are sold under various store brand names. The voluntarily recalled waffle products were sold at Walmart, Target, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, H-E-B, Publix, Harris Teeter, Kroger, and other grocery stores in the US and Canada. The recall list as of October 18, 2024, is as follows:

• Always Save 9.9-ounce homestyle waffles.
• Best Choice 12.3-ounce chocolate chip, blueberry, original, buttermilk, and multigrain waffles.
• Bettergoods 10.72-ounce blueberry protein, chocolate chip protein, and vanilla protein buttermilk waffles.
• Breakfast Best 12.3-ounce homestyle, chocolate chip, blueberry, cinnamon, and pumpkin waffles.
• Clover Valley 12.3-ounce homestyle and buttermilk waffles.
• Essentials 9.9-ounce homestyle waffles.
• Food Lion 12.3-ounce blueberry, reduced-fat homestyle, and reduced-fat buttermilk waffles.
• Foothold 12.3-ounce blueberry, homestyle, buttermilk, chocolate chip, and multigrain waffles.
• Giant Eagle 12.3-ounce blueberry, homestyle, and buttermilk waffles.
• Good & Gather 10.7-ounce buttermilk vanilla waffles and 12.3-ounce homestyle, buttermilk, and blueberry waffles.
• Great Value 12.3-ounce homestyle, buttermilk or blueberry waffles, and 560-gram blueberry waffles.
• Hannaford 12.3-ounce chocolate chip, blueberry, homestyle, reduced-fat buttermilk, and multigrain waffles.
• Harris Teeter 12.3-ounce blueberry, homestyle, buttermilk, and multigrain waffles.
• H-E-B Higher Harvest 10.72-ounce original protein waffles.
• Kodiak Cakes 13.4-ounce vanilla buttermilk waffles and 10.2-ounce dark chocolate and chocolate chip waffles.
• Pics by Price Chopper 12.3-ounce chocolate chip, blueberry, homestyle, and buttermilk waffles.
• Publix 12.3-ounce homestyle and buttermilk waffles.
• Schnucks 12.3-ounce chocolate chip, blueberry, homestyle, and reduced-fat buttermilk waffles.
• SE Grocers 12.3-ounce chocolate chip, blueberry, reduced-fat homestyle, and buttermilk waffles.
• Simple Truth 13.4-ounce vanilla buttermilk waffles.
• Tops 12.3-ounce blueberry, homestyle, buttermilk, and chocolate chip waffles.
• Western Family 280-gram homestyle waffles. 

Why is Listeria so dangerous?

Listeria is a type of bacteria naturally occurring in soil, but can live in environments ranging from acidic to salty, in high and low temperatures, and in low moisture. Because of that, Listeria can survive for a very long time, making it particularly hard to wipe out outbreaks. The bacteria can spread via contaminated foods to surfaces and equipment, where it can then spread to other foods.

Although it is rare, Listeria infection is one of the leading causes of death from foodborne illnesses. Listeria contamination is responsible for listeriosis, the hard-to-diagnose infection that can cause preterm labor, stillbirth, or miscarriage in pregnant people, who are 10 times more likely to get listeriosis than other people. Listeriosis can also cause symptoms like fever, headache, flu-like symptoms like muscle aches and fatigue, and stiff neck. The infection primarily strikes older adults, pregnant people, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems.

Another thing that makes Listeria dangerous is that, unlike some other food pathogens that cause food poisoning, Listeria can grow at refrigerator temperatures. Accordingly, cold storage does not prevent the risk of contamination, although reheating to 165 degrees can kill the bacteria.

Some typical sources of Listeria in foods include raw milk, cheeses made with raw milk, soft cheeses, deli meats, raw sprouts, raw flour, melon, and smoked fish.

How can you protect against Listeria contamination?

To protect your health, an important first step is to scan your kitchen for any products that are on the recalled list of potentially contaminated Boar’s Head items. Consumers are advised to avoid eating and to throw away or return any recalled products, as well as to thoroughly disinfect any surfaces or containers that could have touched the potentially contaminated items.

People with heightened risk levels, such as people with weakened immune systems, who are pregnant, or who are 65 years old or older, should take additional precautions. For example, high-risk individuals are advised to eat only precooked and deli meats that have been reheated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, to clean surfaces or containers that could have touched any cooked or meat products, and to contact their healthcare providers if any symptoms of listeriosis arise.

Some other tips to avoid Listeria contamination include avoiding raw milk, raw flour, and raw sprouts, seeking out pasteurized milk in the ingredients list of soft cheeses like brie and Camembert, and refrigerating cut melon for no more than a week.

Support CSPI’s efforts to protect food safety

CSPI pushes for policies to keep our food supply free of dangerous pathogens, fight antibiotic resistance in the food chain, control and label allergens, and curb the use of synthetic dyes and poorly tested additives. We led the fight for national legislation that promises safer produce, and whole and processed foods that are regulated by the FDA. You can support our efforts to foster a safer food system today.