Why Dunkin is recalling about 2 million bakery items including doughnuts and coffee rolls

Dunkin is reportedly recalling approximately 2 million bakery items, comprising doughnuts and coffee rolls.

FGF Brands, which supplies baked products across the United States and Canada, initiated a voluntary withdrawal citing "potential for contamination with Listeria monocytogenes," as stated in a Food and Drug Administration report released Wednesday.

The affected items include various doughnuts (chocolate, raspberry and Bavarian), French crullers, éclairs, and coffee rolls. The FDA indicated that some items were retailed at Dunkin' and manufactured before December 13, 2024. The contamination's origin remains unidentified.


The January 7 recall received a Class II classification on Wednesday, which the FDA describes as "a situation in which use of, or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

The FDA provided no information about illness cases linked to these items.

FGF Brands issued a statement explaining the voluntary recall as "a precautionary measure based on non-product related findings" at one US doughnut facility.

They clarified that "no doughnuts or food contact surfaces ever tested positive for listeria."

The organisation stated that the recall concluded in early January, "and does not implicate anything that is currently, or was recently, on the market. We take food safety seriously and acted with an abundance of caution."

Dunkin' had not responded to queries by Sunday.

Listeria can even cause death

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria ranks third in causing food-borne illness fatalities in the United States.

Whilst Listeria infections are uncommon, they can result in serious health issues.

Common symptoms include fever and headaches. Although most people consuming Listeria-contaminated food remain healthy, vulnerable groups including pregnant women, elderly individuals, newborns and immunocompromised persons risk severe illness or death, per CDC guidance.

CDC data indicates roughly 1,600 annual Listeria infections in the United States, causing approximately 260 deaths.

The previous Listeria-related recall occurred in December when Braga Fresh withdrew specific ready-to-eat broccoli floret packages from Walmart stores.