BALTIMORE — An ice cream manufacturing plant in Owings Mills has ceased operations after a federal investigation uncovered Listeria contamination and unsanitary conditions at the facility.
Totally Cool Inc., a company that produced ice cream products under popular brands like Friendly’s, Hershey’s Creamery Corporation, and ChipWich, has agreed to permanently halt its manufacturing and distribution activities. This follows a federal court ruling last week, which permanently barred the company from producing adulterated food products.
The case originated from a complaint filed in March 2024, which accused Totally Cool of violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Listeria contamination at the facility had been present since at least 2017, posing a potential health risk to consumers.
As a result of the contamination, Totally Cool initiated a food recall over health concerns. The FDA subsequently suspended the company’s food facility registration, which led to its filing for bankruptcy.
In a settlement agreement, Totally Cool entered a consent decree, agreeing to discontinue all food processing and preparation operations. The company, however, avoided admitting any guilt or liability in the case.
The closure marks the end of operations for the ice cream producer, raising concerns about food safety standards in the industry.
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