TreeHouse Foods, a food processing company, recently recalled 25 of its waffle products on October 18, 2024, because of possible listeria contamination. This voluntary recall has since been expanded on October 22, 2024, to include more than 40 brands of both frozen waffles and pancakes. This includes frozen toaster waffles, Belgian waffles, and other pancake products.
There have been no linked illnesses to the recall but this threat should still be taken very seriously. Listeria could cause serious infections to anyone with a weakened immune system including children and elderly people. While people in good health typically only suffer from minor symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, in more severe cases you could experience symptoms such as headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Typically symptoms are mild however can become very severe to pregnant people and could result in miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or could result in life-threatening infections of the newborn. According to the CDC, 1 in 6 people infected with invasive listeriosis die.
Stores that recalled waffle products from TreeHouse Foods include Dollar General, Publix, Stop & Shop, Target, Walmart, Kroger, Aldi, Albertson’s, HEB, and Foodhold.
Tree House Foods urges customers to check if they have recently bought any pancake or waffle items from them. If so they are able to return the product to the store they purchased it from and receive a refund.
This potential contamination has affected the trust of consumers. A student at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Emily Voong, stated “This recall will affect my decision on whether or not I will buy their products. There are a lot of other options, so I would rather buy another brand than risk getting sick.”
She later added, “It has affected my trust in the brand. I will probably not eat it for a couple of years and see if there are any other incidents in the future.”
When asked about her initial reaction to the news about the recall, a student at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Remy Tonthat, stated “Outrageous. I was scared and concerned for families that consume products from this company. I’m scared they can harm my family and cause them to be sick.”
