Blue Bell 'Crankin' Out Ice Cream' Again

Ala. plant gets all-clear from health officials
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 6, 2015 1:13 AM CDT
Blue Bell 'Crankin' Out Ice Cream' Again
Blue Bell delivery trucks are parked at the creamery's location in Kansas City.   (Orlin Wagner)

Blue Bell can resume production and sale of ice cream manufactured at its Alabama plant, the state's Department of Public Health says. An inspection found that Blue Bell's creamery in Sylacauga, Alabama, meets all state public health standards, and the finding leaves no state objection to resumed production at the plant, a state official says. The company stopped production at plants in Alabama, Texas, and Oklahoma plants after issuing a national recall in April because of concerns about listeria. Its ice cream was linked to 10 listeria illnesses in four states, including three deaths in Kansas. The recall prompted Blue Bell to lay off a third of its workforce, but it tweeted yesterday that it is now "crankin' out ice cream and building inventory" again.

Blue Bell, which is based in Brenham, Texas, underwent an extensive cleaning and decontamination process at its plants following the recall. No date has been given for when Blue Bell products could be back in stores as its flagship creamery in Texas and the Oklahoma plant remain closed, a Blue Bell spokeswoman says. "We are still finalizing our distribution plan, and do not have a date when our products will return to market," she says. The company says a "significant investment" from billionaire Texas businessman Sid Bass has helped it stay in business. (More blue bell stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X