The Florida ice cream maker allegedly linked to a listeria outbreak that has killed two and sickened dozens has refused to issue a recall while officials investigate, according to a report.
The Florida Department of Health is leading a probe into the outbreak linked to Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota, Fla.– and has advised consumers not to eat the 25-year-old, family-run company’s ice cream.
The state agency also directed Big Olaf to “suspend sales and production until further notice,” but the company appears to be resisting, agency spokesperson Jeremy Redfern told the Bradenton Herald.
“They informed us that they’d be contacting those that serve their product to recommend that they stop serving. It appears that they aren’t necessarily taking our advice,” Redfern said.
The Post has reached out to the Florida agency for additional comment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising consumers to “throw away any remaining product” as it investigates 22 hospitalizations and one death linked to the brand, according the agency’s website.
Big Olaf did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“For now it is only speculation as it is an ongoing investigation, our brand has not been confirmed to be linked to these cases,” the company said in a July 3 Facebook post. “I am not sure why only Big Olaf is being mentioned and targeted,” adding that “nothing has been proven” and that it has been cooperating with state and federal authorities.
There are 15 licensed Big Olaf creamerys in Florida and the product is also available in senior homes, restaurants, fairs and supermarkets, according to the company’s website.
The family of Mary Billman is suing Big Olaf after she died of listeria 11 days after eating contaminated ice cream and another woman is suing the company alleging that she miscarried her baby as a result of eating the ice cream.
All but one of the 23 known victims were hospitalized with severe symptoms, according to government reports.
The outbreak began in January and involves residents of 10 states who either live in Florida–where Big Olaf is exclusively sold – or traveled there in the month they got sick.
Fourteen of the 17 people who were interviewed by regulatory agencies reported eating ice cream. Among the 13 who remembered details about the type of ice cream they ate, six reported eating Big Olaf brand or eating ice cream at locations that the company supplies, according to food safety law firm Marler Clark, which is representing the family of Mary Billman.
Big Olaf says “every tub” of its ice cream is “hand mixed with the finest ingredients and is then churned in batch freezers by local Amish Craftsmen,” according to its website. “The smooth, creamery consistency comes from two sources: attention to detail, and fresh, high butter fat (14%) milk.”
[Written in collaboration with other media outlets with information from the following sources]
