PUNE: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the national food regulatory body, has issued an alert over the presence of the bacterium listeria monocytogenes' in US-based Blue Bell Creameries' ice cream products.
Blue Bell recently voluntarily recalled the product after its two half-gallon containers of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, manufactured on March 17 and 27 this year, tested positive for listeria.
Though, the recalled products are not being sold in India, these products may be available online, the FSSAI said.
Listeriosis is a rare but serious illness caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium called listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis can be fatal, especially in certain higher risk groups which include the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
"The FSSAI issued the advisory in the country because there is a possibility that the product might have entered the country through online portals which sell imported products. The product has already been recalled in the USA," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Pune division.
Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune said: "We are going to keep a watch over online portals selling imported products in India. Consumers also need to be alert and vigilant while buying products online."
The symptoms of listeria infection include gastrointestinal distress, muscle aches and fever.
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