Some of the media reports about recalled Listeria contaminated Blue Bell Creameries ice cream, that sickened at least five people in Wichita, Kansas stated that the products made on the suspect line were only sold to food service facilities at institutions. But two retailers have recalled Blue Bell products: Kroger and Target. Consumers should check their freezers to see if they have any of the recalled ice cream products.
The people sickened in this outbreak were at the Via Christi Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. Three of the five patients have died, according to the CDC and the Kansas Department of health. The Listeria strains in this particular outbreak are very rare.
The recalled Kroger products are Chocolate Chip Country Cookie SKU # 196, Great Divide Bar SKU #108, Sour Pop Green Apple Bar SKU #221, Cotton Candy Bar SKU #216, Scoops SKU #117, Vanilla Stick Slices SKU #964, Almond Bars SKU #156, 6 pack Cotton Candy Bars SKU #245, 6 pack Sour Pop Green Apple Bars SKU #249, and 12 pack No Sugar Added Mooo Bars* SKU #343. And Target has recalled Blue Bell No Sugar Added Mooo Bars that were made at the facility in question.
If you have these products in your home freezer, do not eat them. Discard in a sealed container so other people and animals can’t eat them, or return to the place of purchase for a refund. Wash your hands well with soap and water after handling these products. Then you need to clean your freezer with a mild bleach solution to kill any bacteria. Wipe down the items that were in the freezer with a cloth saturated with a mild bleach solution of 1 tablespoon bleach to 1 gallon water, then dry with a clean paper towel.
If you ate any of these recalled products, monitor yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis, the illness caused by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, for the next 70 days. That’s how long it can take for symptoms of this illness to appear.
The symptoms of listeriosis are flu-like fever, muscle aches, stiff neck, headache, loss of balance, upset stomach, and diarrhea. In pregnant women, listeriosis may only cause a very mild illness, but the infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and infection in the newborn baby. If you do develop these symptoms, please see your doctor as soon as possible for treatment.
