Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams identifies source ofListeria contamination

Two weeks after it recalled all its products that tested positive for Listeria, US-based Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams said that it has identified the source of the bacteria and is taking steps to contain the contamination.

The company said in a statement that a swab test had found the bacteria on the spout of one of their production machine, which is used for filling a portion of its pints.

Jeni’s however clarified that it is not used for filling buckets that are used to scoop from its shops.

The company said it will still dispose of all of the buckets.

Jeni’s said in a statement: "We’ll never be 100% certain how Listeria got onto the machine. Our job now is to rework our production kitchen into a facility that provides the best defences against any contamination, and we have enlisted some of the world’s top food safety experts to help in that effort

"So far the conservative estimate of new investment in the transformation of our kitchen is $200,000, but we expect that number to increase. We will spend whatever it takes."

The new layout for the kitchen would aim at minimising the entry of pathogens into the production environment and streamlining the movement of ingredients and employees.

Removal of walls, addition of cooler spaces, establishing colour-coded hygienic zones to prevent cross-contamination, installation of systems for spraying colour-coded hygienic zones and placing of sanitary crystals around drain pipes are a few of the steps that the company is planning.

All fresh fruits and vegetables will be sent to a different location for processing.

"To help determine the ongoing effectiveness of these controls, we are implementing an aggressive environmental testing and sampling program, including a regular swab-testing regime to ensure the complete elimination of Listeria, once and for all," the statement added.

The company had stated that the bacteria were detected in a sample that was randomly collected by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

---

Image: Jeni’s found the listeria on the spout of one of its production machines. Photo: courtesy of rakratchada torsap/freedigitalphotos.net.