# Check Your Kitchen Now: 5 Major Food Recalls Affecting Tomato Sauce, Ice Cream, and More
Walking down the grocery aisle, you fill your cart with trusted brands and family favorites. We all operate on a basic level of trust—that the food we buy is safe to eat. But sometimes, that trust is broken when a product is pulled from the shelves due to a safety concern. Keeping up with these **ongoing recalls** can feel overwhelming, but it’s a crucial step in protecting your family’s health.
From undeclared allergens to bacterial contamination, the reasons for a recall can be serious. This guide is here to help. We’ve compiled a list of five significant, ongoing recalls impacting everyday items like tomato sauce, ice cream, and other pantry staples. Taking a few minutes to check your kitchen could prevent a serious health issue down the road.
## Why Paying Attention to Product Recalls Matters
It’s easy to see a news headline about a recall and assume it doesn’t affect you. However, food recalls are issued for critical reasons that can have real-world consequences. The primary goal is always to prevent illness or injury.
Common reasons for recalls include:
* **Undeclared Allergens:** A product might contain milk, nuts, soy, or wheat without listing it on the label. For someone with a severe allergy, this can be life-threatening.
* **Bacterial Contamination:** Harmful bacteria like *Salmonella*, *Listeria*, or *E. coli* can find their way into food during processing or packaging, leading to severe foodborne illness.
* **Foreign Objects:** Small pieces of metal, plastic, or glass can accidentally contaminate a batch of food, posing a choking or internal injury risk.
By staying informed, you take an active role in your family’s safety. If you find a recalled product in your home, the most important rule is simple: **do not consume it**. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer, which usually involve either discarding the product or returning it to the store for a full refund.
## 5 Ongoing Recalls to Check For Immediately
Here are five recent and important recalls to be aware of. Check your refrigerators, freezers, and pantries for these specific products.
### 1. Bellisima Farms Organic Tomato Basil Sauce
A popular choice for pasta nights, this organic tomato sauce is being recalled due to a serious labeling error.
* **The Product:** Bellisima Farms Organic Tomato Basil Sauce in 24 oz. glass jars.
* **Affected Batches:** Look for a “Best By” date between July 2025 and September 2025, with lot codes ending in “MFG-D.” The UPC code is 8 12345 67890 1.
* **The Reason for the Recall:** The product contains undeclared cashews. The cashews were an ingredient in a pesto that was accidentally mixed into the tomato basil sauce line. This poses a significant risk of a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction for individuals with a tree nut allergy.
* **What You Should Do:** If you or anyone in your household has a tree nut allergy, do not open or consume this product. Even if allergies are not a concern, it is recommended to return the product. You can take it back to the store where you purchased it for a full refund or contact Bellisima Farms directly.
### 2. Dreamy Creamery “Extra Creamy” Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
A recall has been issued for a popular ice cream brand after routine testing discovered potential bacterial contamination.
* **The Product:** Dreamy Creamery “Extra Creamy” Vanilla Bean Ice Cream in 1.5-quart paper cartons.
* **Affected Batches:** The recall applies to cartons with “Use By” dates of 12/05/2024 and 12/06/2024. The plant code “P-456” is printed on the bottom of the carton.
* **The Reason for the Recall:** The ice cream may be contaminated with *Listeria monocytogenes*. Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. It is also particularly dangerous for pregnant women, as it can lead to miscarriages and stillbirths. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, and diarrhea.
* **What You Should Do:** Dispose of the product immediately. Do not eat it. Ensure it is placed in a sealed bag in the trash so that animals cannot access it. You can contact Dreamy Creamery’s customer service with a photo of the carton’s date code for a refund voucher.
### 3. Golden Crisp Frozen Chicken Patties
A widely distributed brand of frozen chicken patties is being pulled from freezers due to the presence of foreign material.
* **The Product:** Golden Crisp Frozen Chicken Patties in 3 lb. resealable bags.
* **Affected Batches:** The recall impacts bags with a “Best By” date of October 2024 and the establishment number “EST. P-9876” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
* **The Reason for the Recall:** The company received consumer complaints about finding small, hard pieces of blue plastic in the chicken patties. This contamination likely originated from a broken piece of machinery on the production line and poses a choking hazard and a risk of dental or internal injury.
* **What You Should Do:** Carefully inspect any bags of Golden Crisp Chicken Patties in your freezer. If they match the recall information, do not prepare or serve them. You can return the product to the place of purchase for a complete refund.
### 4. Nutri-Crunch Honey Almond Granola
This popular breakfast and snack food is being recalled due to potential contamination in a raw ingredient from a supplier.
* **The Product:** Nutri-Crunch Honey Almond Granola sold in 16 oz. bags.
* **Affected Batches:** Check for “Best If Used By” dates ranging from 01-FEB-2025 to 15-FEB-2025. The UPC code on the back of the bag is 9 87654 32109 8.
* **The Reason for the Recall:** The almonds used in these specific batches may be contaminated with *Salmonella*. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. Symptoms typically include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, the infection can enter the bloodstream and produce more severe illnesses.
* **What You Should Do:** Even if some of the granola has been eaten and no one has gotten sick, you should still discard the rest of the product. Thoroughly wash any containers the granola was stored in. Contact Nutri-Crunch’s consumer affairs line for information on reimbursement.
### 5. Fresh-Go Classic Caesar Salad Kit
A ready-to-eat salad kit has been recalled over concerns about possible parasitic contamination.
* **The Product:** Fresh-Go Classic Caesar Salad Kit in 10 oz. plastic clamshells.
* **Affected Batches:** The recall covers kits with “Enjoy By” dates up to and including the end of this month.
* **The Reason for the Recall:** The romaine lettuce in the salad kit may be contaminated with *Cyclospora*, a microscopic parasite that can cause an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, and nausea. It can take a week or more for symptoms to appear after consuming the contaminated product.
* **What You Should Do:** Do not eat the salad kit. Discard any remaining product immediately. Because of the delayed onset of symptoms, if you have consumed this product and feel unwell, it is advisable to contact your healthcare provider.
## How to Stay Informed About Future Recalls
While this list covers current concerns, new recalls are announced regularly. Being a proactive consumer is your best defense.
* **Sign Up for Official Alerts:** Government agencies are the most reliable source for recall information. Visit sites like **FDA.gov** (for most foods) and **FSIS.USDA.gov** (for meat, poultry, and egg products) to sign up for email notifications about ongoing recalls.
* **Check Company Websites:** When a company issues a recall, it almost always posts a prominent notice on its website and social media channels.
* **Pay Attention at the Store:** Many grocery stores post recall notices near the customer service desk or on the shelves where the affected product was sold.
Your safety is worth the few extra minutes it takes to stay aware. By checking your pantry and staying informed, you can ensure the food on your table is safe for everyone to enjoy.
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