Update:
HOUSTON (AP) – A supplier of cookie dough that Blue Bell Creameries is blaming for possible listeria contamination of some ice cream says the product tested negative for the pathogen before being sent to the Texas-based company.
In a statement Thursday, Iowa-based Aspen Hills said the “positive listeria results were obtained by Blue Bell only after our product had been in their control for almost two months.”
Brenham, Texas-based Blue Bell announced Wednesday it’s recalling some ice cream flavors after finding chocolate chip cookie dough from Aspen Hills was potentially contaminated with listeria.
Blue Bell says no illnesses have been reported from the ice cream distributed in 10 states.
The company shut down its three plants for four months last year after contamination linked to listeria cases in four states, including three deaths.
Original story:
Blue Bell ice cream has issued a voluntary recall of ice cream produced at its plant in Alabama and distributed in ten states that don’t include Texas.
Blue Bell’s website states its internal tests of a third party supplier of a cookie dough ingredient indicated the potential of containing Listeria. The recall involves half gallons of Blue Bell chocolate chip cookie dough and cookie two step, and pints of chocolate chip cookie dough.
None of the ice cream was made in Brenham and none of it was shipped anywhere in Texas.
A Blue Bell spokesperson told WTAW News by e-mail that the Alabama plant “has not been shut down. The enhancements made in our facilities, our enhanced cleaning and sanitation program and manufacturing processes are designed to ensure that the products we produce are safe. We initiated this recall out of an abundance of caution.”
Improvements at all Blue Bell plants took place after they were shut down last year due to Listeria contamination in Brenham and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
