This time it’s only two flavors that the beloved Texas-based manufacturer is halting distribution on. Blue Bell announced recalls on Wednesday of products containing chocolate chip cookie dough after learning a batch of edible cookie dough from its third party-supplier, Aspen Hills, may be contaminated with listeria. No illnesses have yet been reported, but the company wants to remain cautious, especially following the limelight of the massive recall on all Blue Bell products just last year. The company has since adopted enhanced food safety screenings which is likely the contributor to catching this issue early on. Blue Bell stated it had identified “a potential problem through intensified internal testing,” and soon after notified the supplier- Aspen Hills.
The recall affects half-gallon and pint-sized chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and half-gallon “Cookie Two Step” products that were distributed to stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. A list of product codes can be found here.
Consumption of listeria can cause fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include high fever, headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In 2015, Blue Bell products that were contaminated with listeria were responsible for 10 hospitalizations, three of which resulted in death.
Blue Bell stated that “consumers should not eat the recalled products and are encouraged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.”
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