Food Recalls 2015: Tainted Blue Bell Ice Cream, Sabra Hummus, Trader Joe's Sausage, Kraft Macaroni And Cheese Among Withdrawn Foods

Every day, or so it would seem, a popular food product is newly marked as inedible due to the presence of bacteria, bits of plastic or other materials that don't belong in food. Here are six of the most notable food recalls of the year in the United States – and it’s only April.

1. Blue Bell Ice Cream: This Texas-based company finally recalled all of its products Monday, following previous piecemeal recalls of some of its products, due to a possible listeria monocytogenes contamination of its ice cream, frozen yogurt and other icy treats. Listeria bacteria are particularly dangerous during pregnancy and for people with weakened immune systems, causing a condition called listeriosis that leads to fever, muscle aches and stomach problems. The bacteria are unusual because though they can be killed in the cooking process, they are able to survive and grow in cold temperatures.

2. Sabra Hummus: This popular brand of the chickpea-tahini dip was also recalled in April due to the possible presence of the same bacteria. The company recalled 30,000 cases of its Classic Hummus after samples were tested and found to potentially contain listeria.

3. Chicken Sausage sold at Trader Joe’s and elsewhere: Nearly 30 tons of sausage were recalled Monday by producer Kayem Foods because of the possibility of bits of plastic in the sausage. The sausages included Trader Joe’s “Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage” and Al Fresco’s “Apple Maple Fully Cooked Breakfast Chicken Sausage.” The Department of Agriculture called it a Class II recall, meaning it has only the “remote possibility of adverse health consequences.”

4. Amy’s Kitchen food products: In March, Amy's Kitchen recalled more than 70,000 cases of lasagna, pizza and other prepared foods due to the possibility of listeria in one ingredient – organic spinach – used in those foods.

5. Kraft Mac And Cheese: The food giant recalled 242,000 cases of its macaroni and cheese dinners due to the possibility of “small pieces of metal” in the boxes. It made the announcement after eight customers reportedly found their mac and cheese to be contaminated, but the company said that no one had been injured by them.

6. Trader Joe’s walnuts: Packages of five different walnut offerings were recalled in March due to possible Salmonella contamination. Food poisoning because of these bacteria can cause fever and intestinal problems. If the bacteria enters the bloodstream, it can cause more severe illnesses.

Want the extended version? You can find a full list of 2015 food recalls from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by clicking here.