Goodbye, 265 Tonnes Of Ice Cream As Jeni’s Destroys Frozen Products

Ohio-based Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams would suffer losses of more than $2.5 million because it would have to destroy over 265 tonnes of ice cream possibly contaminated by listeria. When the food company confirmed the presence of Listeria in its dairy products last week, it recalled all its ice cream from sellers and shuttered ice cream shops in six states.

The recalled items are about 15 tractor-trailer loads spread on more than 300 pallets, estimated Jeni’s CEO John Lowe, reports Fox. He said a team is working to totally eradicate the bacteria in its production facility.

Jeni’s said it will bring the ice cream to an anaerobic digester. The digester converts the product into electricity, and it comes out as clean, natural fertiliser, reports Eater.

The firm stressed it has to destroy all its ice cream because it is not safe for consumption. Actually, testing of its pints and buckets mostly yielded negative results for the bacteria, but Listeria was found in a pint of its Buckeye State ice cream flavour, so Jeni’s is not taking any chances of allowing consumers to taste its frozen products.

Due to the closure of its shops and plants, 575 workers are affected. However, Jeni’s is paying them their salaries partially. About 25 percent of its shop employees are part-time workers, while half of its kitchen staff are full-time workers. It also maintained the employees’ health benefits.

Besides Jeni’s, Blue Bell Creameries in Texas was also hit by listeria, forcing the company to close its plants in three states for intensive cleaning.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au