Update: Texas Cases Prompt Blue Bell Reminder

News Release
April 9, 2015

Health officials urge consumers to be aware of the Blue Bell Creameries recall and not to eat any product made at the company’s Oklahoma facility following listeria concerns.

Three cases of Listeriosis in Texas have been identified as part of the outbreak and are related to products made at the company’s Oklahoma plant. The Texas cases were hospitalized for unrelated problems before they developed Listeriosis between 2011 and 2014. The company has suspended its operation at the Oklahoma plant.

Retailers are urged not to sell or serve products from the Oklahoma plant. They can be identified by checking for letters “O,” “P,” “Q,” “R,” “S” and “T” following the code date printed on the bottom of the product package. Consumers should discard or return Blue Bell products with those letters.

Listeriosis is an infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The disease primarily affects older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms usually start within several days, though they can develop up to two months after eating contaminated food. Symptoms may include diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms followed by fever or muscle aches.

In mid-March, five Kansas cases were identified and linked to products made on a single production line at the company’s Brenham plant. The Brenham production line connected to the Kansas cases is no longer being used.

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