can't afford to do this too many times before they close the doors
Posted on 04/20/2015 8:41:41 PM PDT by kingattax
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) – After concerns about Listeria contamination, Blue Bell Ice Cream has voluntarily recalled ALL of its products currently on the market. The recall includes ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks made at all of its facilities.
A press release from the Brenham, Texas-based company say the products “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.”
In the statement Blue Bell CEO and president Paul Kruse said, “We’re committed to doing the 100 percent right thing, and the best way to do that is to take all of our products off the market until we can be confident that they are all safe.”
(Excerpt) Read more at news360.com ...
Probably.
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.
NO! Blue Bunny is just awful. Blue BELL is amazing!
When we first moved to TX back in the 90’s our elementary school had a Ice Cream Fest. We had never heard of Blue Bell. Well,when we were in line with our kids for ice cream they had run out of BB and were serving some other brand. Parents were upset and vocal that they ONLY ate BB and would NOT eat any lesser brand. My husband and I thought they were elitist snobs and couldn’t get over their rudeness. Years later.....WE have become THEM!
There ought to be crisis centers here in TX for those of us who are ready to SNAP!
geez!!! that’s too horrifying to think bout. A law suit doesn’t heal the pain of a lost child!!!
For Immediate Release
http://cdn.bluebell.com/ceo-video-message April 20, 2015
Statement from Blue Bell CEO and President Paul Kruse
We’re committed to doing the 100 percent right thing, and the best way to do that is to take all of our products off the market until we are confident that they are all safe. At every step, we have made decisions in the best interest of our customers based on the evidence we had available at the time. We have brought in one of the world’s most respected food safety microbiologists to inspect our plants and systems to help us get to the bottom of this issue.
Through further internal testing, we learned today that Listeria monocytogenes was found in an additional half gallon of ice cream in our Brenham facility. While we initially believed this situation was isolated to one machine in one room, we now know that was wrong. We need to know more to be completely confident that our products are safe for our customers.
As Blue Bell moves forward, we are implementing a procedure called “test and hold” for all products made at all of our manufacturing facilities. This means that all products released will be tested first and held for release to the market only after the tests show they are safe.
In addition to the “test and hold” system, Blue Bell is implementing additional safety procedures and testing including:
- Expanding our already robust system of daily cleaning and sanitizing of equipment
- Expanding our system of swabbing and testing our plant environment by 800
percent to include more surfaces
- Sending samples daily to a leading microbiology laboratory for testing
- Providing additional employee training
At this point, we cannot say with certainty how Listeria was introduced to our facilities. We continue to work with our team of experts to eliminate this problem.
We urge consumers who have purchased Blue Bell products to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with any concerns or questions should call 1-866-608-3940 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. CST or go to www.bluebell.com for the most up-to-date information.
We are heartbroken about this situation and apologize to all of our loyal Blue Bell fans and customers. Our entire history has been about making the very best and highest quality ice cream, and we intend to fix this problem. We want enjoying our ice cream to be a source of joy and pleasure, never a cause for concern, so we are committed to getting this right.
We bought some Blue Bell pineapple sherbet and lime sherbet within the last two months. I wanted the pineapple. Husband got lime because he doesn’t like pineapple so he assumes our children agree with him. He started serving the sherbet and tasted the lime as he was scooping. He threw out the whole container. He said it tasted like poop or used a similar term. I trusted his judgement though I was a bit stunned that he would throw it all away. Within two weeks, they issued their first recalls, but sherbet was not on the list. We have had Blue Bell ice cream in our house this week and a few other times this last month. It is the only ice cream I like. :(
On the radio this morning they mentioned cookie dough was linked to it, perhaps from the raw egg. I think BB is a really smart company who will take the hit and then actually be able to use it to their advantage.
It’s going to hurt the bottom line, but them doing this very publicly and showing they will take ZERO chances when peoples health is involved can be used in a big PR way, making lemonade so to speak.
Their openness and thoroughness will instill a confidence that will bring back every single customer, and even add some when people think about it.
can't afford to do this too many times before they close the doors
Finished off my container yesterday. Feeling fine. Will buy again when they return. Great ice cream.
don't you worry....the Fascist in DC and elsewhere are getting a BP Shakedown going, fire up the LIV ... for instance
We know they have to have liability insurance, but who knows if it’s to handle something of this degree. I hope so!!
I don’t even eat ice cream, but I have two guys in this house who I cannot keep enough Blue Bell in stock for.
There are going to be some SERIOUS Cookies ‘n Cream and Homemade Vanilla withdrawals happening, here.
Every birthday party, in our family, is celebrated with Blue Bell ice cream.
This listeria issue is most definitely a curious incident.
My personal favorite is Hershey's Ice Cream. It's sold in around 30 states. Creamiest ice cream I've even had with the exception of my grandmother home made ice cream.
Or simply a common supplier.
News Media Contact: Joe Robertson, 979-830-9830, media@bluebell.com
Consumer Contact: 1-866-608-3940
BLUE BELL CREAMERIES VOLUNTARILY EXPANDS RECALL TO INCLUDE ALL OF ITS PRODUCTS DUE TO POSSIBLE HEALTH RISK
BRENHAM, Texas, April 20, 2015 –Blue Bell Ice Cream of Brenham, Texas, is voluntarily recalling all of its products currently on the market made at all of its facilities including ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks because they 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.
“We’re committed to doing the 100 percent right thing, and the best way to do that is to take all of our products off the market until we can be confident that they are all safe,” said Paul Kruse, Blue Bell CEO and president. “We are heartbroken about this situation and apologize to all of our loyal Blue Bell fans and customers. Our entire history has been about making the very best and highest quality ice cream and we intend to fix this problem. We want enjoying our ice cream to be a source of joy and pleasure, never a cause for concern, so we are committed to getting this right.”
The products being recalled are distributed to retail outlets, including food service accounts, convenience stores and supermarkets in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming and international locations.
Today’s decision was the result of findings from an enhanced sampling program initiated by Blue Bell which revealed that Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream half gallons produced on March 17, 2015, and March 27, 2015, contained the bacteria. This means Blue Bell has now had several positive tests for Listeria in different places and plants and as previously reported five patients were treated in Kansas and three in Texas after testing positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
“At every step, we have made decisions in the best interest of our customers based on the evidence we had available at the time,” Kruse said. “At this point, we cannot say with certainty how Listeria was introduced to our facilities and so we have taken this unprecedented step. We continue to work with our team of experts to eliminate this problem.” Blue Bell is implementing a procedure called “test and hold” for all products made at all of its manufacturing facilities. This means that all products will be tested first and held for release to the market only after the tests show they are safe. The Broken Arrow facility will remain closed as Blue Bell continues to investigate.
In addition to the “test and hold” system, Blue Bell is implementing additional safety procedures and testing including:
- Expanding our already robust system of daily cleaning and sanitizing of equipment
- Expanding our system of swabbing and testing our plant environment by 800
percent to include more surfaces
- Sending samples daily to a leading microbiology laboratory for testing
- Providing additional employee training
Blue Bell expects to resume distribution soon on a limited basis once it is confident in the safety of its product.
Consumers who have purchased these items are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information consumers with questions may call 1-866-608-3940 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. CST or go to bluebell.com.
For Immediate Release April 20, 2015
We’re committed to doing the 100 percent right thing, and the best way to do that is to take all of our products off the market until we are confident that they are all safe. At every step, we have made decisions in the best interest of our customers based on the evidence we had available at the time. We have brought in one of the world’s most respected food safety microbiologists to inspect our plants and systems to help us get to the bottom of this issue.
Through further internal testing, we learned today that Listeria monocytogenes was found in an additional half gallon of ice cream in our Brenham facility. While we initially believed this situation was isolated to one machine in one room, we now know that was wrong. We need to know more to be completely confident that our products are safe for our customers.
As Blue Bell moves forward, we are implementing a procedure called “test and hold” for all products made at all of our manufacturing facilities. This means that all products released will be tested first and held for release to the market only after the tests show they are safe.
In addition to the “test and hold” system, Blue Bell is implementing additional safety procedures and testing including:
- Expanding our already robust system of daily cleaning and sanitizing of equipment
- Expanding our system of swabbing and testing our plant environment by 800
percent to include more surfaces
- Sending samples daily to a leading microbiology laboratory for testing
- Providing additional employee training
At this point, we cannot say with certainty how Listeria was introduced to our facilities. We continue to work with our team of experts to eliminate this problem.
We urge consumers who have purchased Blue Bell products to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with any concerns or questions should call 1-866-608-3940 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. CST or go to www.bluebell.com for the most up-to-date information.
We are heartbroken about this situation and apologize to all of our loyal Blue Bell fans and customers. Our entire history has been about making the very best and highest quality ice cream, and we intend to fix this problem. We want enjoying our ice cream to be a source of joy and pleasure, never a cause for concern, so we are committed to getting this right.
Union sabotage?
A little stock tip -
of COURSE their stock price will fall
BUT, they are still a solid company
and that price will recover within a short period of time
once they get this all fixed up.
Unfortunately true. Been taking care of sick relatives and out of town. Made sure to hide it from the cat sitter.
If you have the opportunity, try Graeter’s.
It’s so rich, a little goes a long way.
meanwhile, Ben and Jerry’s begins marketing beer
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