Blue Bell Recalls After Listeria Outbreak

A recent listeria outbreak found in a Kansas hospital has been linked to the Blue Bell ice cream factory in Oklahoma. Blue Bell has issued a recall of specific products, a first for the 108-year-old company.

"We are devastated and know that Blue Bell has to be and can be better than this," Paul Kruse, Blue Bell CEO and president, said in a statement. "Quality and safety have always been our top priorities."

The CDC has reported that there is an ongoing investigation into how exactly the illnesses are related to Blue Bell products. Until then, they advise to check for the recalled products and throw them away. Blue Bell has stated that their gallon, half-gallon, and pint sized ice cream is absolutely free from listeria and is safe to eat.

While there is no concrete evidence that the ice cream is the source of the infections, this is not the first time Blue Bell products have been linked to listeria. In early March, there was an outbreak in Texas where the CDC found listeria samples from patients who came down with listeriosis between 2010 and 2014 in a hospital that served 3-ounce Blue Bell cups.

Listeriosis is a serious infection caused "by eating food contaminated with listeria, and primarily affects the elderly, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems." Some of the symptoms include fever and muscle aches, as well as gastrointestinal issues. If anyone notices these symptoms after consuming any Blue Bell products, they should see a doctor immediately.

This is not the first food recall to ever occur, and this certainly will not be the last. When these contamination outbreaks do occur, though, it does bring into question the regulations placed on these products. Perhaps it is time to reevaluate how food is handled and make some improvements.

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