Three cases of listeriosis in Texas have been confirmed to be part of a multistate outbreak of Listeria illnesses related to Blue Bell ice cream products. That linkage has prompted a health advisory to the Dallas County medical community. The Texas Listeria advisory was issued by the Dallas County Health and Human Services agency to heighten awareness of the outbreak. The identical strain of Listeria monocytogenes that recently killed three hospital patients in Wichita, Kansas, also sickened three people in Texas between 2011 and 2014, the FDA has said. “While we have not received any reports of cases in Dallas County related to Blue Bell ice cream products, DCHHS is monitoring the situation to ensure we are abreast of any information related to this outbreak,” said Zachary Thompson, … [Read more...]
Blue Bell Recalls Ice Cream, Sherbet Pints and Half Gallons for Listeria
Blue Bell is now recalling pints and half gallons of ice cream and sherbet made at its plant in Broken Arrow, Okla. The recall expansion was triggered when tests performed on Banana Pudding Ice Cream pints by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The company is recalling all products produced on the same line between February 12, 2015 – March 27, 2015. The recalled products have a code date ending in either S or T on the bottom of the carton. The recalled products are as follows: Ice cream pints with the UPC # 0 71899-05015 in the following flavors and lot codes: Banana Pudding 021217S, Butter Crunch 021917S, Mint Chocolate Chip 022017S, Cookie ‘ Cream 030317S, 030617S, Homemade Vanilla 032317S, Dutch Chocolate 032317S and … [Read more...]
Oklahoma’s Key Role in Blue Bell Listeria Investigation
Listeria problems with Blue Bell ice cream were thought to be associated with a single machine at the company's manufacturing facility in Brenham, Texas. Tests on products made there contained the same unusual strains of the bacteria that killed three people and sickened two others at Via Christi hospital in Wichita, all of whom had eaten Blue Bell ice cream during their hospitalizations for unrelated illnesses. But earlier this week, tests on a different product made at different location, Blue Bell's plant in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, were also positive for Listeria. The product, a 3-ounce ice cream cup, was made specifically for Blue Bell's institutional clients such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools and shipped to 23 states. No illnesses have been linked to Blue Bell products … [Read more...]
Listeria Recall: Blue Bell Ice Cream at Schools, Hospitals, Nursing Homes
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 … [Read more...]
How Does Listeria Get Into Ice Cream?
The deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has killed three people in Kansas has been linked to Blue Bell ice cream. When most people think of food poisoning, they think of undercooked or raw meat or eggs. How does a supposedly innocuous product like ice cream become contaminated with pathogenic bacteria? Listeria monocytogenes bacteria are everywhere in our environment. These bacteria live in soil and water. Animals carry the bacteria and can transfer it to our food though feces, through dirty irrigation water, and in food harvesting and transport. All bacteria love food because it's a great source of nutrients. Listeria monocytogenes bacteria are unique in that they can grow at refrigerator and even freezer temperatures. In fact, the longer a food contaminated with this … [Read more...]
Full Tilt Ice Cream Recalled for Potential Listeria
Full Tilt Ice Cream of Seattle is recalling all of its dairy-based ice creams due to potential Listeria contamination. These dairy base for these ice cream products was produced by Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream Inc. where Listeria was detected during an inspection by health officials. Full Tilt representatives say the company has since performed a rigorous sanitation schedule to prevent further contamination. Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, seniors, those with compromised immune systems. Among pregnant women it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Symptoms of an infection include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause The recalled Full Tilt ice cream products were … [Read more...]
