Blue Bell Creameries is expanding its previously announced recall of its ice cream products containing chocolate chip cookie dough because of possible contamination by the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
Brenham, Texas, based Blue Bell Ice Cream announced the system-wide recall of all of its products containing the chocolate chip cookie dough ingredient produced by Aspen Hills on Monday night, information received from Blue Bell by Breitbart Texas revealed. Blue Bell’s announcement followed the cookie dough manufacturer’s recall of its ingredients supplied to Blue Bell and other companies.
Aspen Hills, Inc. says there is no evidence of listeria in their products but is “acting out of an abundance of caution.” The company said it found errors in the manufacturing process including the failure of employees to wear their proper uniforms and possible cross contamination, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Publix Supermarkets, located in the southeast U.S. market announced it is also recalling its Publix Premium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream that includes the Aspen Hill ingredients.
While there have been no reported illnesses associated with these products, both Blue Bell and Publix are recalling their products containing the cookie dough ingredients.
Blue Bell officials previously announced the recall of its Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Blue Bell Cookie Two Step ice cream products that were produced in its Sylacauga, Alabama, plant, Breitbart Texas reported in September. This week’s expanded recall now includes all products made that include the cookie dough ingredient supplied by Aspen Hills. Blue Bell officials stated the recall came after Aspen Hills provided additional information on more cookie dough lots.
Blue Bell stated it is recalling the Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Blue Bell Cookie Two Step ice cream products in half gallon and pint retail packaging, and the three gallon products sold to food service accounts. The three gallon products named were Blue Bell Blue Monster, Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Blue Bell Krazy Kookie Dough. The products were produced from February 2, 2016 and September 7, 2016.
The announcement from Blue Bell states:
The consumer and food service products produced with the cookie dough pieces were distributed in the following states Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Publix officials stated their products being recalled are marked with a sell-by date of May 27, 2017 and UPC code 000-41415-03843.
Blue Bell officials provided the following information regarding the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria:
Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Those who have purchased products marked for recall are urged to contact the retail outlet where they purchased the products for a “full refund.” Customers with other questions about the recall are asked to call 979-836-7977 during normal business hours (Central Time Zone).
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.