Key Mes​​sages

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a Listeria outbreak linked to kosher soft serve ice cream.
• On August 9, Real Kosher Ice Cream recalled all flavors of their “Soft Serve On The Go” ice cream cups, that have been distributed to multiple long-term care facilities.
• One case has been reported from this outbreak that was served this ice cream and resided in a long-term care facility.
• Listeriosis is especially harmful to those who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems.
• Healthcare providers and clinical laboratories should contact their lo​​cal health departments and report identified cases per California Code of Regulations, Title 17.
  

​Background

The CDC is investigating a Listeria outbreak linked to kosher soft serve ice cream and is advising long-term care facilities, hospitals and other institutions to not serve any flavors of “Soft Serve On The Go" ice cream cups. One sick person in this outbreak was served this ice cream cup while residing in a long-term care facility. Listeria was found in a “Soft Serve On The Go" ice cream cup collected from another sick person's freezer, and laboratory scientists are working to determine if it is the outbreak strain of Listeria. 

On August 9, Real Kosher Ice Cream recalled all flavors of their “Soft Serve On The Go" ice cream cups. Recalled ice cream cups were distributed nationwide to multiple long-term care facilities. 

Listeriosis is a serious illness especially for those who are elderly, immune-compromised, and/or pregnant. Reporting of listeriosis by both healthcare providers and clinical laboratories are required within one working day of identification per California Code of Regulations, Title 17. In addition, all isolates must be sent to a public health laboratory for additional strain typing, which may help identify the source of illness.

Recommendations

Long-term care facilities, hospitals and other i​​nstitutions should not serve any flavors of “Soft Serve On The Go" ice cream cups. 

Healthcare providers and clinical laboratories must report identified listeriosis cases per California Code of Regulations, Title 17. 

​​Healthcare providers should contact their local health department immediately if they identify a case in a resident of a long-term care facility or if there are multiple suspected cases. ​

Resources​​

Please see the CDC notification at CDC website: Listeria Outbreak Linked to Ice Cream​