Waffle Recall | Motherly

If frozen waffles and pancakes are a staple in your home, you’ll want to check your freezer ASAP. 

TreeHouse Foods has expanded its earlier recall of frozen waffles to now include all of its griddle products—this includes Belgian waffles and pancakes—due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall, initially limited to specific frozen waffles, has been broadened after further testing revealed the risk might affect a wider range of products.

While no illnesses have been reported, the recall impacts a wide range of breakfast products that were distributed across the U.S. and Canada under various store brands, Kodiak Cakes, Nature’s Path, Wegmans, Simple Truth, Good & Gather, and more. The contamination risk was uncovered during routine testing at a manufacturing facility in Ontario, according to TreeHouse Foods.

Let’s dive into the details of this recall, what it means for your family’s health, and what steps you need to take.

Waffle brands affected by the recall

Several popular brands of frozen waffles sold at major retailers have been impacted. Here’s a breakdown of the key products to watch out for:

• 365 by Whole Foods Market
  • 365 Organic Homestyle Mini Waffles
  • 365 Organic Blueberry Waffles
  • 365 Organic Homestyle Waffles
  • 365 Organic Multigrain Waffles
  • 365 Organic Blueberry Mini Waffles
• Best Choice:
  • Best Choice Chocolate Chip Waffles
  • Best Choice Blueberry Waffles
  • Best Choice Original Waffles
  • Best Choice Buttermilk Waffles
  • Best Choice Multigrain Waffles
• Good and Gather:
  • Good and Gather Buttermilk Vanilla Waffles
  • Good and Gather Homestyle Waffles
  • Good and Gather Buttermilk Waffles
  • Good and Gather Blueberry Waffles
• Great Value:
  • Great Value Homestyle Waffles
  • Great Value Buttermilk Waffles
  • Great Value Blueberry Waffles
• Kodiak Cakes:
  • Kodiak Cakes Vanilla Buttermilk Waffles
  • Kodiak Cakes Dark Chocolate Waffles
  • Kodiak Cakes Chocolate Chip Waffles
• Trader Joe’s
  • Trader Joe’s Blueberry Waffles
  • Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Toaster Waffles
  • Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Waffles
• Wegmans:
  • Wegman’s Organic Flaxseed Waffles
  • Wegman’s Organic Multi Grain Waffles
  • Wegman’s Organic Frozen Homestyle Waffles
  • Wegman’s Organic Blueberry Waffles
  • Wegman’s Organic Frozen Flaxseed Waffles
  • Wegman’s Organic Waffles, Homestyle
  • Wegman’s Gluten Free Frozen Homestyle Waffles
  • Wegman’s Gluten Free Frozen Blueberry Waffles
  • Wegman’s Belgian Waffles
  • Wegman’s Cinnamon Belgian Waffles
  • Wegman’s Organic Homestyle Mini Waffles
  • Wegman’s Frozen Buttermilk Pancakes
  • Wegman’s Blueberry Pancakes

Access the full list of the recalled items here, along with the product code, lot code and expiration date. 

What should you do if you have recalled waffles?

If you’ve purchased frozen waffles recently, it’s important to check if your product is part of the TreeHouse Foods recall due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

1. Check the packaging. Look for the UPC, Lot Code, and Best By Date to see if your frozen waffles are part of the TreeHouse Foods recall for potential Listeria contamination.
2. Dispose or return the product. If your waffles match the recall information, don’t consume them. Safely dispose of them or return to the store for a refund or credit.
3. Contact the manufacturer. For questions, call TreeHouse Foods at 800-596-2903.
4. Monitor for symptoms. While there have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to these products so far, it’s important to be aware of potential symptoms of Listeria infection, especially for vulnerable individuals like pregnant women and young kids.

What is Listeria?

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that causes foodborne illness, particularly dangerous for young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. While freezing generally halts the growth of most bacteria, Listeria can survive in frozen foods like the waffles affected by this recall.

Eating food contaminated with Listeria can lead to Listeriosis, a serious infection that may result in hospitalization or, in extreme cases, death. This makes the frozen waffle recall particularly important for families to take seriously.

Listeria symptoms in toddlers

Listeriosis can be especially harmful to young children. If your toddler has consumed recalled waffles, here are some symptoms to watch for:

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea or other gastrointestinal issues
• Muscle aches
• Irritability
• Difficulty breathing in severe cases

If your child displays any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Listeria incubation period

One of the tricky things about Listeria is its long incubation period. Symptoms can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks after consuming contaminated food to appear. The Listeria incubation period typically ranges between 1 to 2 weeks, but in some cases, symptoms may not show up until 90 days after exposure.

Because of this delayed onset, it’s important to stay vigilant if your family has consumed any of the recalled products recently.

Sources:

1. What is Listeria? Mayo Clinic. Listeria infection.
2. Symptoms of Listeria. American Academy of Pediatrics. Listeriosis in Infants, Children & Pregnant People.
3. Listeria incubation period. World Health Organization. Listeriosis.