SARASOTA, Fla. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms more cases have now been reported in the Listeria outbreak linked to recalled ice cream from Sarasota, Florida-based Big Olaf Creamery.
As of Aug. 4, the CDC listed 25 reports of related illnesses across 11 states – including 24 hospitalizations and one death.
The Food and Drug Administration said the investigation into the outbreak was still active. Along with the CDC, the FDA is coordinating with the Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to respond to the situation.
In the meantime, the FDA urged people not to consume any of the recalled ice cream. Additionally, they asked restaurants and retailers not to sell or serve any of the affected products.
Several Tampa Bay area ice cream shops have tossed their supplies of Big Olaf and cut business ties with the brand following the start of the outbreak. As reported previously, the owners of an ice cream shop on Cattlemen Road went ahead and changed their name to Blue Pineapple and switched suppliers.
Two lawsuits have been filed against Big Olaf Creamery, including one that claims a great-grandmother died after eating contaminated ice cream in Sarasota. Another lawsuit claims a woman suffered a miscarriage after eating affected ice cream.
"Listeria is most likely to sicken pregnant people and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems," the FDA wrote on its website. "Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill."