Blue Bell Ice Cream Recalls All Products Over Listeria Concerns

April 21, 2015

Blue Bell Ice Cream has  voluntarily recalled all of its products currently on the market made at all of its facilities, including ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbert and frozen snacks, because they have the potential to be contaminated with listeria.

“We’re committed to doing the 100 percent right thing, and the best way to do that is to take all of our products off the market until we can be confident that they are all safe,” said Paul Kruse, Blue Bell CEO and president. “We are heartbroken about this situation and apologize to all of our loyal Blue Bell fans and customers. Our entire history has been about making the very best and highest quality ice cream and we intend to fix this problem. We want enjoying our ice cream to be a source of joy and pleasure, never a cause for concern, so we are committed to getting this right.”

The products being recalled are distributed to retail outlets, including food service accounts, convenience stores and supermarkets in several states, including Florida and Alabama.

Blue Bell has now had several positive tests for Listeria in different places and plants and as previously reported five patients were treated in Kansas and three in Texas after testing positive for listeria.

“At every step, we have made decisions in the best interest of our customers based on the evidence we had available at the time,” Kruse said. “At this point, we cannot say with certainty how Listeria was introduced to our facilities and so we have taken this unprecedented step. We continue to work with our team of experts to eliminate this problem.”

Blue Bell is implementing a procedure called “test and hold” for all products made at all of its manufacturing facilities. This means that all products will be tested first and held for release to the market only after the tests show they are safe.

Blue Bell expects to resume distribution soon on a limited basis once it is confident in the safety of its product.

Consumers who have purchased these items are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Listeria can cause   serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, a listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Comments

4 Responses to “Blue Bell Ice Cream Recalls All Products Over Listeria Concerns”

  1. emschick on April 21st, 2015 3:23 pm

    or consumers or potential patients or…

    Surely you could figure out what I meant . I guess I shouldn’t post comments when I’m still sleepy

  2. BLT on April 21st, 2015 10:39 am

    Civilians?

  3. emschick on April 21st, 2015 5:15 am

    I commend the company for taking the precautions they are taking. This is going to cost millions perhaps and the company has chosen to protect the health of civilians over making money(look at BP who didn’t). I’d definitely buy their products based strictly on that alone.

  4. Mike on April 21st, 2015 1:32 am

    Phew, that has got to be millions of dollars worth of product. The blot on the company’s reputation will probably cost it even more. Everything, maybe. :(

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News