The FDA has released its inspection reports on Blue Bell's three ice cream facilities revealing food safety violations at all of them and the presence of Listeria in one of them as far back as 2013. Blue Bell ice cream has been linked to a Listeria outbreak that has sickened at least 10 people in four states, three of whom have died. The company has recalled all of its products. Consumers who have Blue Bell ice cream in their freezers should not eat it as they risk serious illness if they do. Blue Bell's three production facilities, in Brehnam, Texas; Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Sylacauga, Alabama, all had multiple food safety violations. At the Broken Arrow facility where operations have been suspended since April 3, Listeria monocytogenes bacteria was found repeatedly during … [Read more...]
Crickets and Mildew at Blue Bell Before Listeria Outbreak
Health inspectors found live crickets, mildew and other food safety violations at Blue Bell's Brenham Texas plant before the Listeria outbreak, according to records obtained by NBC5. The records show that although there were dozens of violations in the four years since the Listeria problem at the plant has been ongoing, no formal warnings or fines were issued, according to the station's report. NBC 5 used the Texas open records law to get copies of inspection reports from January 1, 2011 to April 15, 2015. Blue Bell ice cream made at plants in Texas and Oklahoma has been linked to 10 illnesses and three deaths. Five people were sickened while they were being treated at a Kansas hospital and three illnesses occurred in patients at three different Texas hospitals. One person from Arizona … [Read more...]
Blue Bell Attacking Listeria Problem with Overhaul of Facilities
Major floor repairs and potential work on ventilation systems at Blue Bell ice cream plants will be part of an intensive maintenance overhaul that could take months to complete, the Texas company said in a public statement this week. The effort also will include disassembly of equipment and extensive swabbing of surfaces in search of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria that have crept into the company's products for several years. Public health authorities brought the contamination to light in an investigation of three Listeria deaths in Kansas last year traced to milkshakes made from Blue Bell "Scoops'' ice cream. Now they know that a total of 10 people have been sickened in the outbreak in four states. Half of the victims ate ice cream from Texas facilities and half ate ice cream from … [Read more...]
Blue Bell Listeria Outbreak Spreads to 4 States, 10 Sick
The Listeria outbreak linked to Blue Bell ice cream has spread to four states, sickening 10 people and killing three. In addition to Kansas and Texas, illnesses have now been reported from Oklahoma and Arizona. Blue Bell has recalled all of its products currently on the market. Consumers who have Blue Bell ice cream in their freezers should not eat it as it may be contaminated with Listeria. So far, all 10 of the people identified as case patients in this outbreak contracted Listeria infections from ice cream they were served while hospitalized for unrelated illnesses. The newly reported cases occurred in January 2010 and March 2012. People at high risk for infection from Listeria include pregnant women, newborns, small children, seniors and those with weakened immune systems. … [Read more...]
Blue Bell Recalls ALL Ice Cream Products: More Listeria
Blue Bell Creameries has recalled all of its ice cream products today after two more samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The company issued the recall today on its web site. The recall covers ice cream made at all of its facilities. The recall is for all Blue Bell ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet, and frozen snacks currently for sale. The products are distributed to retail outlets, food service accounts, convenience stores, and supermarkets 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, Wyoming, and international locations. An enhanced sampling program that was initiated by Blue … [Read more...]
Focus of Blue Bell Listeria Outbreak Shifts to Texas
The most recent government findings in the Listeria food poisoning outbreak associated with Blue Bell ice cream have placed Texas in an even greater spotlight than before. Already recognized as the home state of the 108-year-old Blue Bell Creameries Co., Texas has now been confirmed by federal health investigators as the location of a second cluster of illnesses in the outbreak. Based on reports from the FDA, CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services, three Texas hospital patients became ill with listeriosis over a period of time from 2011-2014. Officials who have studied the molecular fingerprints of Listeria found in Blue Bell ice cream say it matches the strains in the Texas hospital patients. None of the agencies would provide details about the Texas case patients, but … [Read more...]
Blue Bell Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Grows to Eight Sick
The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Blue Bell Creameries ice cream has grown to include eight sick in two states, according to the CDC. The outbreak consists of two clusters involving people sickened with this pathogenic bacteria: one in Kansas, with five sick, and one in Texas, with three sick. This complicated outbreak has occurred over an extended period of time. Three people have died in this outbreak. Recent testing of product samples from the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Blue Bell facility found Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in a product sold to retail customers that were not included in the previous two recalls, including a pint of banana pudding ice cream. The government recommends that consumers not eat ANY Blue Bell products made at the Oklahoma facility, and don't … [Read more...]
Blue Bell Suspends Operations at Broken Arrow, OK Plant
After a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in Kansas that sickened five people, Blue Bell is suspending operations at its Broken Arrow, Oklahoma plant. Ice cream produced at that plant was recalled for possible Listeria contamination late last month. Another Blue Bell Facility in Brenham, Texas, produced ice cream that was linked to the Kansas outbreak. Three of the patients sickened in the outbreak, which took place at the Via Christi hospital in Wichita, Kansas, died after they got sick. Of the four people interviewed by public health officials, all drank milkshakes made with a Blue Bell ice cream product called "Scoops". Listeria strains isolated from this product were "highly related" to sequences of Listeria taken from the patients, according to government reports. The statement on … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Blue Bell Creameries Ice Cream Listeria Outbreak
The CDC has updated their investigation of the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in Kansas linked to Blue Bell Creameries ice cream products. The notice states, "based on the information CDC has at this time, we recommend that consumers do not eat any Blue Bell Brand products made at the Oklahoma production facility [in Broken Arrow] and that retailers and institutions do not sell or serve them." Five people have been sickened in this outbreak, and three have died. All five people were hospitalized for unrelated illnesses, and were served the ice cream while at the Via Christi hospital in Wichita, Kansas. The Kansas outbreak is linked to products made at the Blue Bell plant in Brenham, Texas. Attorney Fred Pritzker, who has won millions for people sickened in such outbreaks, said, … [Read more...]
Caramel Apple Listeria Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Minnesota Man
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Minnesota man who allegedly contracted a Listeria infection, listeriosis, from contaminated caramel apples he purchased at a Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Cub Foods store. The complaint, filed in Fourth Judicial District Court in Hennepin County, names Bidart Bros. Inc. and Supervalu Inc. as defendants (Spear v. Bidart Bros. Inc., Supervalu Inc., Cub Foods, Case No. 27-CV-15-4555). The Minnesota man is one of thirty-five confirmed listeriosis cases in an outbreak linked to caramel apples made with Bidart Bros. apples and sold under the brand names Carnival, Happy Apples, and Merb’s Candies. People from 12 states were sickened: they live in Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, and … [Read more...]
