BUSINESS

Blue Bell Ice Cream recalls all products over listeria risk

WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

DALLAS — Blue Bell Ice Cream on Monday issued a voluntary recall for all of its products because of a possible health risk found in half-gallon containers of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream produced on March 17 and March 27.

Known to millions as "the little creamery in Brenham," the Texas company explained its decision in a news release issued just before 9 p.m. CT.

The recall includes products made at the company's Brenham plant as well as its facility in Broken Arrow, Okla. According to Blue Bell's statement, its ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks:

"...have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which 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 headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women."

The company said it now has evidence of positive listeria found in products at different places and different plants.

Blue Bell said supermarkets in Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming and international locations have all been instructed to stop selling the products.

If you have any Blue Bell ice cream, do not consume it. Return it to the store where you bought it for a full refund.

Call Blue Bell at 866-608-3940 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. if you have further questions.