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Blue Bell Ice Cream Recalling All Products For Potential Listeria

Last updated on Tuesday, April 21, 2015

(BRENHAM, TX) - Blue Bell Ice Cream is now recalling all of its products currently on the market including ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which 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, Listeria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The FDA issued an advisory about certain Blue Bell ice cream products made in Brenham, Texas.

The notice was issued after five confirmed cases of listeria in Kansas were linked to products made on a single production line at the Brenham Blue Bell Creameries plant.
All five patients ate the ice cream while being treated in a Kansas hospital. Three of the five people died.

The decision was announced after Blue Bell revealed that Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream half gallons produced on March 17 and March 27 contained the bacteria.

"At every step, we have made decisions in the best interest of our customers based on the evidence we had available at the time," said Paul Kruse, Blue Bell CEO and president. "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. The Broken Arrow facility will remain closed as Blue Bell continues to investigate.

Consumers who have purchased Blue Bell items are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, consumers with questions may call 1-866-608-3940 Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CST or go to their website.

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