Say It Isn’t So: New Blue Bell Recall

Blue Bell Creamery announced Wednesday that once again they are issuing a recall based on contamination concerns in some flavors of their ice creams. According to the company’s website, Blue Bell “is voluntarily recalling select products produced in its Sylacauga, Alabama, plant because they were made with a chocolate chip cookie dough ingredient supplied by a third party supplier Aspen Hills, Inc.” that may be contaminated with listeria.

Photo: www.bluebell.com

The flavors affected include Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Blue Bell Cookie Two Step in half-gallon sizes and Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough also in pint sizes. Listeria is the same bacterial culprit that caused the massive recall in April 2015 of all of Blue Bell’s products in all of its manufacturing facilities after illnesses in 10 people, resulting in three deaths, were linked to the company’s ice cream.

The latest products in question were delivered throughout 10 states in the southern U.S. Concerned Blue Bell customers can find a list of affected product codes (available on the ice cream’s packaging) in the photo below or on Blue Bell’s website.

Listeria bacteria is commonly found in nature especially in water, soil, leafy vegetables, and unpasteurized milk. Symptoms of the bacteria can be mild to severe and include sudden onset of fever, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Pregnant women, the very young, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible. In the most severe cases, death can occur.