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FDA investigates listeria monocytogenes found in Blue Bell Ice Cream

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 82nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron Public Health Flight
Five patients were infected with one of four rare strains of listeria monocytogenes and were treated in a hospital in Kansas, according to the Center for Disease Control and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Three of similar strains have been found in products manufactured at the Blue Bell Creameries production facility in Brenham, Texas, with illness onset dates ranging from Jan. 2014 to Jan. 2015.

Hospital records available for four patients show that all were served ice cream from Blue Bell Creameries' prepackaged, single-serving products and milkshakes made from these products, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The hospital receives ice cream manufactured by Blue Bell Creameries, although it is not confirmed that the hospital receives ice cream only from the Brenham facility.

All five case patients are adults and three deaths have been reported.

Blue Bell Creameries reports that they have removed the affected ice cream products from the market by picking it up directly from the retailers and hospital settings it serves. The company has also shut down the production line where the products were made.

Blue Bell Creameries reports that the following products were removed from the market:
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
Six pack Cotton Candy Bars SKU #245
Six pack Sour Pop Green Apple Bars SKU #249
12 pack No Sugar Added Mooo Bars* SKU #343
Note: The regular Mooo Bars, available at grocery stores, are not subject to recall

The FDA will continue to investigate, provide updates, advice and prevent additional people from becoming ill. Public Health verified that there are no known products being sold on Sheppard Air Force Base and consumers who may have bought it off base should discard or return the items to where thy purchased it from for an exchange or full refund. Blue Bell Creameries contact number is 979-836-7977.

For additional information you may contact the 82nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health flight at 940-676-1874.