Turkey Hill Ice Cream Recalled Due To Metal Contamination

By Sam Lewis

Metal shavings may have contaminated three ice cream flavors

Everyone likes a little extra iron in their diet, but not in this way. Conestoga, PA’s Turkey Hill Dairy is recalling some of its frozen desserts and ice cream due to the possibility of an extra ingredient contaminating the products — metal shavings. These shavings have led to a recall of three flavors of the company’s frozen confectionary.

The company’s press release, made available to the public on Oct 4, indicates that one- and half- quart-sized cartons of Fudge Ripple Ice Cream (UPC Code 0-20735-11011-9 with sell by date 9/30/2014) along with one pint-sized cartons of both Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Premium Ice Cream (UPC Code 0-20735-42005-8 with sell by date 10/04/2014), and Moose Tracks Stuff’d Frozen Dairy Dessert (UPC Code 0-20735-42025-6 with sell by date 9/27/2014) are the affected products.

The desserts were sold at Turkey Hill Minit markets in PA, select Walmart locations in PA and WV, as well as small grocery stores and convenience stores in MD and PA. All locations receiving these potentially contaminated products are directly delivered to and serviced by Turkey Hill. The company has contacted these stores and instructed them to remove the items from retail shelves. All defective products were sold after Oct 1.

The company’s official Facebook page posted the recall on Saturday, Oct 5. Within the thread of comments on the post, one customer posted a comment regarding finding a plastic shard inside the company’s limited edition Pennsylvania Dutch Snyder’s Of Hanover Pretzel flavored ice cream. The customer also suggested adding this flavor to the recall list. A Turkey Hill spokesperson promised the company was investigating this additional instance.

Turkey Hill has received no reports of injuries or illnesses due to the contamination. Customers affected by the recall can be fully refunded for the products at the place of purchase. Refunds can also be received by contacting Turkey Hill directly. Although the company has listed the voluntary recall on its website, the FDA, responsible for overseeing recalls, has yet to post anything regarding this particular contamination. Roughly 45 percent of the staff at the FDA is currently furloughed due to the government shutdown. The shutdown renders the FDA unable to complete the majority of its food safety activity. Staff members of the FDA are to engage in only vital activities, like high-risk recalls.