Frozen Waffle Recall Over Listeria Risks Includes Walmart, Target, Other Store Brands

Listeria food poisoning may be caused by frozen waffles sold under at least 14 different major grocery store brands, posing severe risks for children, elderly and pregnant women.

TreeHouse Foods (THS) has announced a major recall impacting frozen waffles sold under store brands at major grocery stores throughout the U.S., after the manufacturer found evidence at one of their production plants of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, which can lead to severe illness and death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified the public about the frozen waffle recall on October 18, indicating that products sold at Walmart, Target, Food Lion, Aldi’s, Harris Teeter, Giant and other major grocery store chains may pose serious health risks for young children, elderly individuals and pregnant women.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. While healthy individuals generally only experience short-term symptoms, such as fevers, headaches, stiffness, nausea and diarrhea, young children and those with weakened immune systems can develop fatal infections. Listeria poisoning is also extremely dangerous for pregnant women, as it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

TreeHouse Foods indicates that they are not yet aware of any illnesses associated with the recalled frozen waffles. However, the incubation period for listeria poisoning can be up to 90 days, and many of the products have already been sold.

Freezing does not kill listeria bacteria, and some of the waffles contain “best by” dates as late as September 2025.  Therefore, the contaminated waffles may pose a continuing risk for at least the next year.

For this reason, the manufacturer is urging consumers to check their freezers, and immediately discard any of the recalled waffles or return them for store credit.

TreeHouse Foods indicates that their tainted products were sold throughout the U.S. and Canada at retail locations, including:

• Aldi’s
• Dollar General
• Food Lion
• Giant
• Hannaford
• Harris Teeter
• H-E-B
• PriceChopper
• Publix
• Schnucks
• Southeastern Grocers
• Target
• Tops
• Walmart

A complete list of brand names, as well as descriptions, UPC codes, lot codes and Best By dates can be found on the THS Waffle Recall List, available at the FDA website. Images of the affected products can be found in the Brantford Waffles press release.

Customers with any questions can contact the manufacturer at 800-596-2903, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST.

TreeHouse Foods can also be reached through Howard Karesh, media contact, at media@treehousefoods.com, Matt Siler, investor contact, at Matt.Siler@treehousefoods.com, or through the company’s consumer affairs division at 800-596-2903.

BrucePac and Boar’s Head Listeria Outbreaks

This recall comes as federal health officials are continuing to monitor at least two other recalls that may cause listeria poisoning. BrucePac recalled nearly 10 million pounds of meat and poultry due to potential Listeria contamination on October 9.

In addition, a massive Boar’s Head deli meat recall issued earlier this year has already been linked to nearly 60 hospitalizations and at least 10 deaths, making it the deadliest listeria outbreak in the U.S. since 2011, when 11 deaths were linked to listeria-tainted cantaloupe.

As a result of the Boar’s Head listeria outbreak, the company closed its Jarratt, Virginia meat-processing facility, which was at the heart of the outbreak, and discontinued its liverwurst products, which were the main source for the listeria infections.

Boar’s Head now faces multiple individual and class action listeria lawsuits filed against the company, due to the many illnesses and deaths produced by its listeria-tainted meats.