BREAKING NEWS: Blue Bell Creameries is expanding its recall of products produced at the Broken Arrow Oklahoma facility to include Banana Pudding Ice Cream pints which tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. This new recall includes the following products and code dates:
- Ice Cream Banana Pudding pint – 021217S
- Ice Cream Butter Crunch pint – 021917S
- Ice Cream Mint Chocolate Chip pint – 022017S
- Ice Cream Cookies ‘n Cream pint – 030317S, 030617S
- Ice Cream Homemade Vanilla pint – 030417S
- Ice Cream Dutch Chocolate pint – 032317S
- Ice Cream Moo-llennium Crunch pint – 032417S, 032517S
- Rainbow Sherbet pint – 021717S, 021817S, 022317S, 030217S
- Orange Sherbet quart – 032617S
- Mixed Berry Sherbet quart – 032717S
- 3 oz Tab Lid Cup *institutional use only* Rainbow Sherbet – 022417S, 022617S, 022717S
- Gold Rim Half Gallon – Ice Cream Homemade Vanilla half gallon – 030917T, 031017T, 031117T, 031217T, 031617T, 031717T, 031817T
- Brown Rim Half Gallon – Ice Cream Pistachio Almond half gallon – 031317T
- Ice Cream Homemade Vanilla Light half gallon – 031917T
Friday April 3rd the CDC issued a recommendation that consumers do not eat any Blue Bell products that have been manufactured at the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma processing facility, and retailers do not sell these products.
This warning is issued in conjunction with an ongoing CDC investigation linking a recent Listeria outbreak to ice cream products from Blue Bell Creameries.
According to information provided by the CDC:
Blue Bell brand products made at the Oklahoma facility can be identified by checking for letters “O,” “P,” “Q,” “R,” “S,” and “T” following the ”code date” printed on the bottom of the product package.
To date the CDC has issued a recall for the following products:
- Ice Cream Banana Pudding pint – 021217S
- Ice Cream Butter Crunch pint – 021917S
- Ice Cream Mint Chocolate Chip pint – 022017S
- Ice Cream Cookies ‘n Cream pint – 030317S, 030617S
- Ice Cream Homemade Vanilla pint – 030417S
- Ice Cream Dutch Chocolate pint – 032317S
- Ice Cream Moo-llennium Crunch pint – 032417S, 032517S
- Rainbow Sherbet pint – 021717S, 021817S, 022317S, 030217S
- Orange Sherbet quart – 032617S
- Mixed Berry Sherbet quart – 032717S
- 3 oz Tab Lid Cup *institutional use only* Rainbow Sherbet – 022417S, 022617S, 022717S
- Gold Rim Half Gallon – Ice Cream Homemade Vanilla half gallon – 030917T, 031017T, 031117T, 031217T, 031617T, 031717T, 031817T
- Brown Rim Half Gallon – Ice Cream Pistachio Almond half gallon – 031317T
- Ice Cream Homemade Vanilla Light half gallon – 031917T
- Ice Cream Cup Chocolate (3 fl. oz.) – SKU # 453
- Ice Cream Cup Strawberry (3 fl. oz.) – SKU #452
- Ice Cream Cup Vanilla (3 fl. oz.) – SKU #451
- Chocolate Chip Country Cookie – SKU #196
- Great Divide Bar – SKU #108
- Sour Pop Green Apple Bar – SKU #221
- Cotton Candy Bar – SKU #216
- Scoops – SKU #117
- Vanilla Stick Slices – SKU #964
- Almond Bars – SKU #156
- 6 Pack Cotton Candy Bars – SKU #245
- 6 pack Sour Pop Green Apple Bars – SKU #249
- 12 pack No Sugar Added Mooo Bars – SKU #343
Although the company has agreed to voluntarily suspend production at its Broken Arrow, Oklahoma facility, the CDC urges consumers and retailers to examine their freezers for products that may be part of the recall. It is important to discard all potentially contaminated products, even if they have been partially consumed and no one has become ill, when in doubt throw it out.
Who is at Risk?
Listeria poisoning, called Listeriosis, is caused by eating food contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes pathogen. The elderly, immuno-compromised persons and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to this illness and should exercise caution when consuming food products frequently associated with Listeriosis such as unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, ice cream, smoked fish and raw and ready-to-eat meat.
What are the Symptoms?
It is not always easy to recognize a Listeriosis infection because the illness is associated with a wide range of flu-like symptoms, including but not limited to fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, stiff neck, headache, and/or convulsions. Additionally, there is often a delay in the onset of these symptoms, up to several weeks.
If you suspect that you or a family member has Listeria, you should see your doctor. Listeria food poisoning causes an estimated 500 deaths annually. Contact Fred Pritzker for a FREE consultation regarding your Listeria case.