In a significant food safety development, approximately 2 million doughnut and pastry products have been recalled due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacterium that can lead to serious illness. The recall, initially announced on January 7, 2025, was escalated to a Class II status on February 5.
Class II Recall
Class II is defined as “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote,” as noted by USA Today.
The affected products, produced by FGF Brands, a pastry wholesaler based in Indiana, include a variety of items such as doughnuts, fritters, paczki, éclairs, and munchkins. These products were distributed to grocery stores and sold at Dunkin’ locations across the United States and Canada. The recall pertains to products manufactured before December 13, 2024.
What is Listeria?
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious infection with symptoms including vomiting, muscle aches, and fever. Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that may have contaminated the doughnuts, can lead to listeriosis if ingested, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
“An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die,” stated the CDC. Those most vulnerable to listeria include “pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems,” the FDA noted. The CDC added that other groups “rarely become seriously ill” when exposed to listeria.
Unborn infants are particularly at risk, according to the CDC. “Infection during pregnancy results in fetal loss in about 20% of cases and newborn death in about 3% of cases,” the agency explained, as noted by the New York Post.
Refund Details
Consumers who have purchased the affected products are advised to dispose of them immediately or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Retailers have been instructed to remove the recalled items from their shelves to prevent further distribution. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has emphasized the importance of checking product labels and packaging dates to identify potentially contaminated items.
This recall follows similar incidents in 2024 involving broccoli and Boar’s Head meat products, which were also linked to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
According to data from CivicScience, an opinion research group founded at Carnegie Mellon University, 81% of participants in a December 2024 survey expressed being “at least somewhat” concerned about the recent surge in food product recalls, with 31% of them stating they were “very concerned.” Furthermore, 16% of those surveyed mentioned they had avoided a product they typically buy because of the recent recalls.
The recall of these doughnut and pastry products underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring food safety and the importance of vigilant monitoring by manufacturers and regulatory agencies. Consumers are urged to stay informed about such recalls and adhere to safety advisories to protect their health.
