Nestlé Recalls Drumstick Ice Cream Due To Listeria Contamination

The iconic Drumstick ice cream from powerhouse Nestlé is being recalled due to Listeria contamination. Among the recalled products included a "Variety Pack" with 16 ice cream cones, and a "Vanilla Pack" that comes with 24 individually wrapped vanilla cones, which were supposed to be sold individually at convenience stores around the country.

The products contaminated, according to the company's website, are those from their facility in Bakersfield, California, produced between August 31 and September 17, and have "Best Before" dates set at June 2017.

Before the news causes panic however, it is important to know what listeria is. Live Science reported that it is a kind of bacteria that is found naturally in soil and water, and is carried around by animals without appearing sick. This means that any animal product could be contaminated, including dairy products that are used to make ice cream.

Listeria is also said to be able to grow in colder temperatures and refrigerators - in fact, it likes cold, moist, and dark environments, making them particularly problematic in food processing plants. Symptoms of Listeria include high fever, headache, stiffness, abdominal pain and diarrhea. While many suffer only short-term symptoms, it can also caus miscarriages and stillbirths for pregnant women.

In the case of the ice cream cone recall, Nestlé found that their equipment had been contaminated after they did a routine test on a production line. The Drumstick products themselves have not tested positive, and there had been no reported cases of people getting sick after eating the recalled products. Nestlé noted that the recall was made as a form of precaution.

CNN noted that in line with their precautions, the company is also urging customers not to eat the ice cream produced between the said dates and return them to where they were purchased, or contact Consumer Services.