Blue Bell ice cream cups recalled March 23 for Listeria were distributed to hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other institutional food service operations, according to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The recalled 3-ounce cups of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream were manufactured at Blue Bell’s facility in Broken Arrow, Okla. and distributed to 23 states.
Distribution to schools, hospitals and nursing homes is troubling as children, pregnant women, the elderly and the sick are at highest risk for Listeria infections.
This recall is in addition the 10 single serving products Blue Bell withdrew from the market earlier this month after one of them, Scoops, was linked to a Listeria outbreak at Via Christi hospital in Wichita that killed three people and sickened two others.
The outbreak was discovered after South Carolina health officials found Listeria in two Blue Bell products: Chocolate Chip Country Cookie Sandwiches and Great Divide Bars, during routine testing. The products were manufactured at the company’s Brenham, Texas facility. Texas health authorities also did testing on Blue Bell products made in Brenham and found Listeria in Chocolate Chip Country Cookie Sandwiches, Great Divide Bars, and Scoops.
The problem was traced to a single production line at the Blue Bell facility in Brenham which made novelty and single products. Earlier this month, the company contacted clients who had received the products and had them withdrawn from the market. They include: 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.
Retailers including Target, Kroger, Walmart and Publix recalled those products from their stores. They were also distributed for food service use.
Recalled Blue Bell products were distributed to stores and institutions in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming.
Consumers who have purchased these product should not eat them as Listeria can cause serious illness and death. Symptoms include headache, stiff neck, dizziness and gastrointestinal symptoms. Anyone who has eaten the product and develops these symptoms should see a doctor and mention exposure to Listeria.
Symptoms of a listeria infection can take as long as 70 days to develop. Consumers who ate these products before the recall was announced should monitor themselves for symptoms and see a doctor if they develop.
