The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported that one chocolate cup, out of nineteen that were tested, came back with a positive response to Listeria, said Blue Bell spokesman Joe Robertson in an interview with Breitbart Texas. In an overabundance of caution, Blue Bell recalled all three flavors of the institutional/food service cups.
Robertson said the products were made at a Blue Bell owned facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The machine that manufactured these products has been shut down for evaluation. “We have not yet determined the cause or what we will do with this machine,” he said.
The products were manufactured on April 15, 2014. They are not sold in retail outlets, including convenience stores and supermarkets.
No one has been reported ill from these products, Blue Bell said in a press release obtained by Breitbart Texas.
Earlier this month, Blue Bell issued the first recall of products in its 108 year history. Those products also tested positive for Listeria in Kansas. No other states have reported problems with any Blue Bell products, Robertson said.
The initial recall was issued after three people died after eating some of the products that were manufactured on a single machine in Brenham, Texas. That machine and those products have been permanently discontinued.
Robertson reiterated these recalls do not involve any of the retail products that are sold in grocery and convenience stores.
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
This recall in no way includes Blue Bell Ice Cream half gallons, pints, quarts, 3 gallons or other 3 oz. cups, according to the press release.
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.
“We continue to receive positive support from our retail customers,” Robertson said. “We are grateful that people continue to have confidence in our traditional retail products.”
Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and on Facebook.