Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

H-E-B Creamy Creations ice cream recall: Potential presence of metal fragments

Recall published 2+ years ago

Potential presence of metal fragments

The hazard: Foreign material — metal

Fragments of metal may have got into this product during manufacture, which is why whole production codes are withdrawn rather than a handful of packs.

What the notice says: Potential presence of metal fragments

Why it matters: Pieces of metal may be inside the product. The risk here is physical rather than microbial: cuts to the mouth or throat, a broken tooth, or an injury further down if a fragment is swallowed.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

If someone has swallowed a fragment and has mouth or throat pain, trouble swallowing, chest or stomach pain, vomiting, or blood in saliva or stool, they should be seen the same day. A fragment swallowed without symptoms usually passes on its own, but tell the clinician exactly what the product was: metal shows up clearly on an X-ray, so imaging can confirm whether anything is still there.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
April 27, 2024
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
H-E-B
Product type
Dairy
Distribution
Texas
Sold at
H-E-B
Reports of harm
To date, there have been no injuries related to this recall.

Products covered by this recall

Creamy Creations ice cream

What the company announced

A previous version of this press release was issued on 04/27/2024. This press release was updated to correct where product was distributed. No product was distributed in Mexico.

The ice cream is being voluntarily recalled for potential metal

Committed to the safety and quality of its products, H-E-B is voluntarily issuing a recall for 12-count packages of 3-ounce cups of Creamy Creations ice cream in select flavors for potential metal. The affected products were distributed to all H-E-B stores in Texas and Central Market, Joe V’s Smart Shop, and Mi Tienda stores.

To date, there have been no injuries related to this recall. All product related to this recall has been removed from store shelves. H-E-B is working to have the products back on shelves as soon as possible. Customers who purchased the products should not consume the items and can return them to the store for a full refund.

  • Product Name: 3-ounce H-E-B Creamy Creations Chocolate Ice Cream – 12 pack · UPC: 4122062948 · Code Date: 9/6/2024
  • Product Name: 9/7/2024
  • Product Name: 9/8/2024
  • Product Name: 9/9/2024
  • Product Name: 9/10/2024
  • Product Name: 9/11/2024
  • Product Name: 9/13/2024
  • Product Name: 9/14/2024
  • Product Name: 3-ounce H-E-B Creamy Creations Ice Cream Lime/Orange Combo – 12 pack · UPC: 4122081930 · Code Date: 8/31/2024
  • Product Name: 9/1/2024
  • Product Name: 9/2/2024
  • Product Name: 9/3/2024
  • Product Name: 3-ounce H-E-B Creamy Creations Ice Cream Homemade/Chocolate Combo - 12 pack · UPC: 4122081931 · Code Date: 9/11/2024
  • Product Name: 9/12/2024
  • Product Name: 9/13/2024
  • Product Name: 9/14/2024
  • Product Name: 9/15/2024
  • Product Name: 9/16/2024
  • Product Name: 9/17/2024
  • Product Name: 9/18/2024
  • Product Name: 9/19/2024
  • Product Name: 9/20/2024
  • Product Name: 9/21/2024

The UPC and code dates can be found on the back of product’s outer bag, not the individual cups.

Customers with any questions or concerns may contact H-E-B Customer Service at 1-855-432-4438 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Standard Time.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 3 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 12 count
  • 3 ounce
  • 12 pack

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Metal pieces

H-E-B — Fragments of metal may have got into this product during manufacture, which is why whole production codes are withdrawn rather than a handful of packs.

  1. Stop eating it, and do not pick through it to find the fragment — sorting it by hand is how people get cut.
  2. If someone has already bitten into something hard, have them stop, spit out what is in their mouth and rinse rather than swallow.
  3. Keep the pack if you can. If anyone was hurt, the fragment and the packaging together are the evidence that matters.
  4. Return it to the store or bin it sealed, and claim the refund using the lot code from the label.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: Customers who purchased the products should not consume the items and can return them to the store for a full refund.

Company contact: H-E-B — Consumers: H-E-B Customer Service, 1-855-432-4438

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was H-E-B dairy recalled?

Potential presence of metal fragments Potential presence of metal fragments

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official FDA — Company recall announcements record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating it, and do not pick through it to find the fragment — sorting it by hand is how people get cut.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Customers who purchased the products should not consume the items and can return them to the store for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Texas.

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