VOLUNTARY PRODUCT RECALL FOR
ALL BLUE BELL ICE CREAM PRODUCTS DUE TO POSSIBLE HEALTH RISK
The Appalachian District Health Department is issuing notice to the public about a voluntary product recall issued by Blue Bell Creameries for all its products including ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet, and frozen snacks because they have the potential to have Listeria monocytogenes. These products are believed to have been distributed to through supermarkets, convenience stores, and other retail food outlets in several states, including North Carolina.
According to the FDA release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that as of April 20, 2015, there have been a total of ten patients, all who were hospitalized, with several strains of Listeria monocytogenes in four states, and no cases in NC to date. Listeria monocytogenes can cause illness in healthy people including high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and may affect young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems more severely. In addition, it may cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
For more information and to read the Blue Bell Creameries release, go to this link:http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm438104.htm.
“Our environmental health staff will be continuing to monitor the situation locally as we work in partnership with our local institutions to avoid serving or selling these products to the public,” said Andy Blethen, Environmental Health Supervisor.
Consumers should not eat recalled Blue Bell Ice Cream products nor should institutions serve the recalled products, and retailers should not sell the recalled products to the public.
As stated in their release, Blue Bell Creameries urges consumers to return products that have been recalled for a full refund and may call 979-836-7977, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST or go to http://www.bluebell.com for more information.
Follow this issue by connecting with us on facebook or logging on to www.apphealth.com. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact your local Appalachian District Health Department office or log on to www.apphealth.com (Watauga County: 828-264-4995, Ashe County 336-246-9449, Alleghany 336-372-5641). #####