FDA Elevates Recall of 2 Million Cases of Donuts and Products to Second Highest Level

February 9, 2025 TruthUSA

Currently, a survey indicates that public trust in governmental assurances regarding food safety has waned.

Last month, a recall encompassing 60 food products was initiated due to concerns of bacterial contamination, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified as a “Class II” recall.

On January 7, FGF LLC, based in Indiana, recalled over 2 million cases of various items including donuts, eclairs, fritters, munchkins, and more, cautioning that these products might contain listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

On February 5, the FDA designated the recall as “Class II,” which applies when “the use of or exposure to a violative product may lead to temporary or medically reversible health issues, or where the likelihood of severe health impacts is low.”

A Class II recall ranks second among the three recall categories established by the FDA, with Class I being the most critical.

Although rare, listeria infection is considered the “third leading cause of death due to foodborne illness” in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The ailment presents a greater risk to specific groups, such as individuals aged 65 and older, those with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, and infants.

The recalled products, distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada, were manufactured before December 13, 2024, and remain within their shelf life, according to the FDA.

As stated by the agency, “Recalls may be carried out voluntarily by a firm, at the request of the FDA, or under the FDA’s statutory authority.” In this situation, the withdrawal was voluntarily executed by FGF LLC.

In recent weeks, multiple recalls related to listeria have been announced.

On February 8, the FDA reported that Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc. from Wisconsin was recalling 5 oz. packages of Alfalfa sprouts that expired on January 29, due to possible listeria contamination.

Last month, Abbey Specialty Foods, based in New Jersey, withdrew their cheddar products from the market for similar reasons. These items were distributed in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Colorado.

US Food Safety

According to the CDC, listeria can transfer via food products. “Listeria can proliferate in food processing facilities. Once inside, it can be challenging to eliminate completely. The bacteria can contaminate food that comes into contact with tainted surfaces or machinery.

“The bacteria can even thrive in refrigerated food. Consuming food tainted with listeria can lead to a severe infection,” the agency asserts.

A listeria infection can result in either invasive or intestinal illness. Invasive illness occurs when the bacteria spreads beyond the intestines.

Common symptoms of invasive illness include fever, stiff neck, headache, seizures, confusion, and flu-like signs such as fatigue and muscle pain.

For pregnant women, symptoms are typically mild. However, infection during pregnancy can lead to complications such as stillbirth, premature labor, miscarriage, or severe infections in newborns.

Intestinal illness can cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Some individuals with intestinal illness may subsequently develop invasive illness.

Meanwhile, a recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicated that federal entities, including the CDC, FDA, and Food Safety and Inspection Service, were not meeting their targets for reducing foodborne illnesses.

The report referenced an upcoming CDC study revealing that only six pathogens were responsible for nearly 10 million cases of foodborne illnesses each year in the United States, leading to approximately 53,300 hospitalizations and 900 fatalities annually.

A Gallup survey from September 2024 highlighted that public trust in government assurances regarding food safety has reached a “record low.”

Among participants, 57 percent expressed a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence in the federal government’s handling of this issue, which is an 11-point decline from the previous 2019 survey.

Additionally, respondents commented on food safety in grocery stores.

“There are fewer Americans today who feel confident about the safety of food available in most grocery stores compared to five years ago. Around 72 percent of Americans report being very or somewhat confident, down from 81 percent in 2019,” the survey indicated.

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