Boston Bruins Ice Cream Recall: What Consumers Need to Know About Gifford’s Power Play Fudge
A popular ice cream created in partnership with the Boston Bruins has been recalled after concerns that some containers could contain pieces of rubber.
Gifford’s Dairy, a family-owned ice cream company based in Skowhegan, Maine, voluntarily recalled 3,585 one-quart containers of its HomeMaine Power Play Fudge ice cream. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classified the recall as a Class II event on Aug. 19, 2026. The FDA cited potential foreign object contamination involving rubber pieces.
The recall affects products distributed in Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Consumers who recently purchased Power Play Fudge should check the product information before eating it.
Why Was Power Play Fudge Recalled?
According to the FDA recall information, the concern involves possible rubber pieces in the ice cream. The affected product is sold in one-quart containers and carries UPC 8 60864 00030 7. The reported lot code is 26184, with a best-by date of Aug. 27, 2027.
Gifford’s has indicated that the issue appears to be connected to food production equipment. The company told NTD that its investigation suggested the foreign material likely came from a food-grade gasket associated with an ingredient used during manufacturing.
The company chose to recall the entire affected lot as a precaution rather than limit the action to individual containers for which complaints had been received.
That approach is common in food safety situations where a manufacturer cannot immediately rule out the possibility that additional units from the same production run could be affected.
Which Ice Cream Is Included?
The recalled product is Gifford’s Power Play Fudge, a flavor created specifically around the Boston Bruins.
Gifford’s describes the flavor as golden vanilla ice cream combined with crushed chocolate cookies, fudge-filled chocolate pieces designed to resemble hockey pucks, and ribbons of fudge. The company continues to list Power Play Fudge among its New England flavors.
Consumers should not assume that every Gifford’s ice cream product is part of the recall. The recall concerns the specific affected lot and product identification information.
If a container matches the recalled UPC, lot information, and best-by date, consumers should avoid eating it and follow the recall instructions.
Why Is It Called the Boston Bruins' Official Ice Cream?
Power Play Fudge has a long connection with the Boston Bruins.
The Bruins and Gifford’s announced a three-year partnership in October 2016, including the launch of the custom Power Play Fudge flavor. The product was developed as a tribute to the hockey team and became part of a broader partnership between the Maine-based ice cream company and the Bruins.
The original partnership also had a community component. Five percent of sales from the new flavor were designated for the Boston Bruins Foundation, while Gifford’s and the Bruins supported youth hockey initiatives in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
The ice cream was therefore more than just another flavor on a grocery store shelf. It was created as a regional product tied closely to New England hockey culture.
What Does an FDA Class II Recall Mean?
The FDA uses different classifications to communicate the potential health risk associated with recalled products.
A Class II recall applies when exposure to a product could cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences, or when the likelihood of serious health consequences is considered remote.
That is different from a Class I recall, which represents the FDA's highest risk category and involves a reasonable probability of serious health consequences or death.
Class III recalls generally involve violations that are not likely to cause adverse health consequences.
The Class II designation for Power Play Fudge does not mean that everyone who ate the product will become ill. It indicates the FDA's assessment of the potential risk associated with the recalled product.
What Should Consumers Do?
Anyone who has Power Play Fudge at home should check the container carefully.
Look for the product name, UPC, lot information, and best-by date. If the container matches the recalled product, consumers should not eat the ice cream.
The safest approach is to follow the manufacturer's recall instructions rather than trying to remove a suspected foreign object from the product and consume the remainder.
Consumers can also monitor the FDA's recall information for updates as the investigation continues.
Because recalls can change as investigations develop, consumers should rely on official FDA and manufacturer information when checking whether a particular container is affected.
A Reminder About Other Recent Ice Cream Recalls
The Gifford’s recall is not the only recent ice cream safety action.
In May 2026, Straus Family Creamery announced a voluntary recall involving selected Organic Super Premium Ice Cream products because of the potential presence of metal fragments. The FDA said the affected products were distributed in 17 states and included specific varieties such as Vanilla Bean, Strawberry, Cookie Dough, Dutch Chocolate, and Mint Chip.
The Straus recall involved specific production runs and did not affect all of the company's ice cream products. The FDA reported that no injuries had been reported in connection with that recall.
These cases highlight why consumers should pay attention to product codes and dates when a food recall is announced. A recall does not necessarily mean an entire brand or every version of a product is unsafe.
What This Means for Bruins Fans
For many New England consumers, Power Play Fudge is closely associated with the Boston Bruins and the region's hockey culture.
The product was introduced as part of a partnership that connected Gifford’s Maine heritage with one of the area's best-known professional sports teams. Gifford’s continues to describe the flavor as a Bruins-themed ice cream and lists it among its available products.
For now, however, consumers with the recalled lot should put food safety first. The affected containers should not be consumed, and shoppers should verify their product against the recall details.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Enforcement Report, Aug. 19, 2026.
- NTD Television, published Aug. 21, 2026.
- Boston Bruins, official announcement regarding the partnership with Gifford’s Ice Cream, 2016.
- Gifford’s Dairy, Power Play Fudge product information.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, recall announcement concerning Straus Family Creamery organic ice cream, May 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes and is based on publicly available recall information. Product recalls and safety guidance can change as investigations continue. Consumers should check the latest information from the FDA and Gifford’s Dairy before consuming a potentially affected product.