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.