Blue Bell’s Alabama plant cleared to resume production, sales
It’s too soon to camp out in your grocer’s freezer aisle, but the return of Blue Bell appears closer than ever after a breakthrough Wednesday.
The Texas company can resume production at its Alabama plant and sell the ice cream made there, the Alabama Department of Public Health announced.
A state inspection found that the creamery in Sylacauga, Ala., meets all state public health standards, said Ron Dawsey, director of the department’s Division of Food, Milk and Lodging.
That announcement was quickly followed by a statement on Twitter from Blue Bell: “We’re busy at our Sylacauga, AL, facility crankin’ out ice cream and building inventory.”
The privately held company stopped production at its Alabama, Brenham and Broken Arrow, Okla., plants after issuing a national recall in April because of concerns about listeria. Its ice cream was linked to 10 illnesses in four states, including three deaths in Kansas. The recall led Blue Bell to lay off a third of its workforce.
Listeria is a type of bacteria that can cause serious illness, particularly in older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Contaminated products were found at Blue Bell’s Texas and Oklahoma plants. Tests found listeria on a catwalk at the Alabama factory, but not in ice cream samples, according to state health officials.
Blue Bell, based in Brenham, began an extensive cleaning and decontamination process at its plants.
Texas plant still closed
No date has been given for when Blue Bell products could be back in stores. Its flagship Brenham creamery and the Broken Arrow plant remain closed, company spokeswoman Jenny Van Dorf said Wednesday.
“We are still finalizing our distribution plan and do not have a date when our products will return to market,” she said. “We are making good progress on our facilities in Broken Arrow and Brenham but do not have a date when production will resume.”
Last month, Fort Worth billionaire Sid Bass announced that he would lend the company up to $125 million and said the investment was essential for the popular ice cream maker to remain in business, according to a published report. Under the terms, the Bass family would get a one-third stake in the company.
Bass, 73, is the oldest of four brothers who became billionaire investors from oil money they inherited. In announcing the investment, Bass said he was excited to be part of the Blue Bell brand and family.
Ice cream lovers flocked to social media websites Wednesday to celebrate the possibility of a return.
“I’m gonna throw a ‘Blue Bell Back’ party when they come back,” Anthony Hardaway said. “All flavors on deck. From Rocky Road to Cookies & Cream.”
Christian Hipster offered this: “I don’t know what kind of week you’ve had, but Blue Bell ice cream is coming back so let your joy be made full.”
Staff writer John Gravois contributed to this report, which includes material from The Associated Press and the Star-Telegram archives.
This story was originally published August 5, 2015 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Blue Bell’s Alabama plant cleared to resume production, sales ."