FGF Brands recalls 2M baked goods due to possible listeria contamination

USA – FGF Brands has recalled about 2 million baked goods over concerns of potential contamination by Listeria monocytogenes, according to federal safety regulators.

The manufacturer, FGF Brands, which distributes baked goods in the United States and Canada, said in a statement that the voluntary recall was a precautionary measure based on non-product-related findings at one of its doughnut facilities in the United States, adding that no doughnuts or food contact surfaces ever tested positive for listeria.

The company also noted that the recall was completed in early January, and does not implicate anything that is currently or was recently on the market. The recall affects products distributed in the U.S. and produced prior to December 13, 2024.

On January 7, the recall was issued as a Class III, which indicates that “use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences,” according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

The FDA recently changed the classification to a Class II, which means “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.”

The recalled products include a mix of chocolate, raspberry, and Bavarian doughnuts; French crullers; eclairs; and coffee rolls. Some of the goods were sold at Dunkin’. No suspected source of contamination has been identified.

Listeria bacteria causes listeriosis, the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An infection can also cause a stiff neck, a headache, confusion, or seizures.

Older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are the most vulnerable to infection. Listeria is especially dangerous for pregnant women and can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in a newborn.

An estimated 1,600 Americans are infected with listeria each year, and about 260 people die from the bacteria, according to the CDC.

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