Blue Bell Ice Cream Recalled
BRENHAM, Tx. (WJZ) -- Tuesday morning, retailers in 23 states are pulling Blue Bell Ice Cream from store shelves and consumers are being told not to eat any Blue Bell Ice Cream they may have at home. Last Monday night, the Texas company issued a voluntary recall for all of its products after samples of the ice cream tested positive for the potentially deadly bacteria listeria.
Mary Bubala reports.
The Blue Bell recall is rare and sweeping. The Texas-based company voluntarily recalled all of its products late Monday after two samples of its chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream tested positive for the bacteria listeria. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea and it can be deadly.
The move followed weeks of gradual recalls over the same concerns.
"We are heartbroken over this situation," said Blue Bell CEO Paul Kruse.
Kruse issued an apology in a video Monday night but admitted the company doesn't know how the bacteria got into its facilities.
"Ice cream is a joy and pleasure to eat and it should never be a cause for concern," Kruse said.
Some Blue Bell ice cream products were pulled from major retailers weeks ago after the Centers for Disease Control linked the products to three deadly cases of listeria infection in Kansas. The illness was tracked to a production line in Brenham, Texas and later to a second line in Oklahoma. That facility is still closed while officials investigate the source of the bacteria.
Tuesday morning, a Blue Bell spokesman assured consumers the company is determined to fix the problem.
"This is not something we're used to and it's unacceptable for us and we're committed to doing the right thing," spokesman Joe Robertson said.
The 108-year-old company says it's now expanding its cleaning and sanitizing system and will increase employee training.
The recall also includes overseas retailers. Blue Bell urges consumers who have purchased these items 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 through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST or go to bluebell.com.
Giant is one of the stores that issued a recall of the ice cream.