Blue Bell ice cream returns to Indiana after listeria scare
Almost three years after a listeria outbreak directly linked to its products, Blue Bell plans to once again sell ice cream in Indiana, beginning in March. One of the company’s production plants that was shut down because of the listeria contamination was located in Indianapolis.
Blue Bell debuted its ice cream in Indiana in 2010. However, serious illnesses were discovered from 2010 to 2015 that were directly linked to listeria found in the company’s ice cream products. In 2015, ten people located in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arizona were determined to have become ill after eating Blue Bell ice cream products. Three deaths were reported in Kansas as a result of the listeria contamination.
In 2016, the company supplying cookie dough for Blue Bell ice cream ceased production after the Blue Bell cookie dough ice cream was recalled because of listeria. No cases of illness were related to that product.
In addition to Indiana, Blue Bell will begin selling ice cream products again in New Mexico and Kentucky. Ten Indiana cities will be included in the re-introduction, although specific stores were not identified. Blue Bell has also announced it will re-open its production facility in Indianapolis.
Listeriosis, an infection that causes fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, and muscle aches, is caused by the consumption of food contaminated by bacterium Listeria monocytogenes and is considered a public health concern. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, the symptoms can become more serious.
For more information about the Blue Bell listeria scare outbreak or to inquire abut listeria outbreaks generally, please contact the food poisoning lawyers at 1-888-335-4901.
