Faculty member sparks voluntary ice cream recall

When Crystal Johnson discovered peanuts in her favorite pecan ice cream, she didn't know she would spur the voluntary recall of Dove's Caramel Pecan Perfection ice cream Oct. 26.


Johnson, assistant professor in the department of Environmental Sciences, stopped at the grocery store Oct. 21 to purchase her favorite comfort food after having a bad day. But she realized something was wrong when she began eating the pecan ice cream.


"It just tasted bad," she said.


After spitting out what she thought were pecans, she realized her pint of ice cream was full of chocolate-covered peanuts instead.


Johnson said she thought the company had substituted the pecans for cheaper peanuts, but after checking the label, she said she realized the company had made a mistake.


Johnson said she knew a mistake like this could be fatal. Johnson's friend almost died after a similar mistake with peanuts at a Thai food restaurant, Johnson said.


"It takes one time to see somebody almost die ... the images stick with you," she said.

Johnson contacted the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, Mars — Dove's parent company, the Food and Drug Administration and Dr. Prem Menon, physician and founder of the Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Center in Baton Rouge.


An FDA investigator came to her house the following Monday to examine the ice cream, and the product was recalled that afternoon, Johnson said.


"It's extremely dangerous because the ice cream was not labeled as having peanuts," Menon said.


About 1 percent of the population has peanut allergies, he said. People exposed to peanuts can experience swelling of the lips, nausea or vomiting and a drop in blood pressure, he said.

"If they don't get proper treatment, they can die," he said.


The ice cream was recalled in 19 states, including Louisiana, according to a statement released by FAAN.


Johnson said the FDA mentioned someone who went to the hospital because of eating the ice cream, but they could not give her details.


Six other people in the nation reported the peanuts in the ice cream, she said.


Johnson received a letter of apology from Mars and coupons for free ice cream, she said.

"It's just funny because I don't want a coupon," she said. "I need the product off the shelf."





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Contact Kristen M'lissa Rowlett at krowlett@lsureveille.com