In a National Nurses Week celebration gone wrong, Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss., accidently served nurses waffles May 9 that had been recalled for listeria concerns May 5, according to a WDAM report.
Pinnacle Foods voluntarily recalled some Aunt Jemima-brand frozen pancakes, frozen waffles and frozen French toast slices because they may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Forrest General Hospital officials only learned of the recall after serving nurses the waffles during an appreciation breakfast.
"Food and Nutrition immediately notified nursing administration," according to a hospital statement sent to WDAM. "Infection control was immediately contacted, and nurse managers were called together to begin the process for notifying the employees who had eaten the waffles."
The hospital called the incident an "unfortunate situation" that "was not due to anything within the control of Forrest General, and we sincerely hope that no one becomes ill."
Employees can visit the hospital's employee health clinic for tests and treatment for listeria infection.
According to the FDA recall notice issued May 5, no illnesses have been reported.
None of the recalled waffles were served to patients, according to the hospital's statement.
Listeriosis is caused when people eat food contaminated with the bacteria, and the infection can be deadly, according to the CDC. Roughly 1,600 people get listeriosis each year and 260 die. The infection is treatable with antibiotics.