Although testing by Blue Bell Creameries in September revealed Listeria contamination and spurred recalls by Blue Bell, three other ice cream companies and a cookie dough manufacturer, a fifth ice cream company did not announce a recall until November, saying it wasn’t notified about the problem until Nov. 10.

“Cedar Crest was notified on Nov. 10 that the cookie dough in the referenced products, which is manufactured by Aspen Hills Inc., has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” according to the recall notice posted on Nov. 11 by Cedar Crest Specialties Inc. of Cedarburg, Wis.

“The affected products were distributed in retail stores throughout the Midwest. Cedar Crest Specialties is taking immediate steps to recall all affected products, as a voluntary, preventative safety measure.”

The Food and Drug Administration has been monitoring the Aspen Hills Inc. cookie dough recall, according to recall notices from the Garner, Iowa, company and the other ice cream companies. However, FDA spokespeople have reported the agency cannot publish a list of Aspen Hills corporate customers because of restrictions about “confidential corporate information.”

Cedar Crest is recalling the following flavors and sizes of ice cream. Consumers should look for the specific production code on the ice cream containers to determine if it has been recalled:

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavor in pints, 48-ounce containers and 3-gallon containers with any of the production codes 3826, 3846, 4346 or 4326;
• Monster Cookie flavor in 3-gallon containers with the production code 3826; and
• Pirate’s Bounty flavor in 48-ounce containers with the production code 4346.

“Customers who have purchased Cedar Crest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Monster Cookie and/or Pirate’s Bounty flavors bearing the affected Product Code Dates and container sizes are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund,” according to the recall notice. “Questions may be directed to 888-628-0730, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. central standard time.”