UPDATE AS OF APRIL 21: Blue Bell Ice Cream has voluntarily recalled all its products made at all of its facilities. This includes ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks made at every plant, including Oklahoma's Broken Arrow facility.
The company reports every Blue Bell product has the potential of being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
So far, three people have died and five others have fallen ill from the contaminated products.
A recent recall from Blue Bell Ice Cream has been expanded to a variety of products and the Oklahoma City-County Health Department wants Oklahoma residents to be extra careful to avoid affected products. Blue Bell has expanded the recall after five people sought care following a facility in Texas testing positive for Listeria. These people had consumed milkshakes containing a product called “Scoops” which are pre-wrapped ice cream scoops. Three of these people died.
The new recall includes three 3-ounce ice cream cups: chocolate, strawberry and vanilla with tab lids from their Broken Arrow, Oklahoma facility. These products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The ice cream cups listed below were distributed in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming via food service accounts.
- Ice Cream Cup Chocolate (3 FL OZ) No UPC – SKU #453
- Ice Cream Cup Strawberry (3 FL OZ) No UPC – SKU #452
- Ice Cream Cup Vanilla (3 FL OZ) No UPC – SKU #451
The Oklahoma City-County Health Department reports Listeriosis is a rare but serious illness caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Anyone who experiences fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms, or develops fever and chills after eating the ice cream should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about any history of eating the ice cream.
The Oklahoma City-County Health Epidemiologists stress with Listeria, the main concern is for children, elderly and immunocompromised people who are more likely to experience illness and pregnant women who may experience miscarriage or stillbirths due to infection. Most infected people have mild or no symptoms with the incubation period begin quite long compared to other foodborne illnesses.
Consumers who have purchased these items are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information consumers with questions may call 979-836-7977, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST.
Any further questions please feel free to contact https://www.occhd.org/OCCHD.
