GLENVIEW, Ill. -- Kraft Inc. announced Friday a voluntary recall of all Polar B'ar ice cream squares from the market so it can re-evaluate the manufacturing process.
Kraft Inc. recalled 25,000 cases, or 1.8 million squares, of Polar B'ars July 3 that were manufactured in its Richmond, Va., plant because the ice cream was contaminated with traces of the bacteria listeria monocytogenes.
The disease related to the bacteria causes flu-like symptoms such as vomiting and fever in a normal, healthy adult but can prove deadly to pregnant woman, the very young or very old, and those with weakened immune systems, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA, however, said the amount of bacteria found in Polar B'ar samples posed no significant risk. Hundreds of consumers reported symptoms similar to those linked to the bacteria, but the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta have found no confirmed cases that can be linked to the tainted bars.
Kraft closed the Virginia plant July 3 while federal and state health inspectors investigated how the bacteria was introduced into the plant. In addition to the Richmond plant, productions lines have been shut down in Huntingon, Ind., and Framingham, Mass.
Tom Herskovits, president of the Glenview-based Kraft Dairy Group, emphasized the new action is precautionary and no further problems have been found.
'Unlike the previous recall, this market withdrawal is not prompted by the discovery of any listeria contamination in Polar B'ar ice cream squares,' he said.
'Our continued study and testing of the manufacturing environment have not satisfied us that all aspects of our production procedures ensure the integrity of this specific frozen product.'
Polar B'ar products are included in the recall are: vanilla, checkerchoc, checkerberry, crunchy, peanut butter crunch, heavenly hash, mint chocolate chip and chocolate chocolate chip.
Consumers with the product should discard the contents and return the wrappers and tray to the store where it was purchased for a refund.
