blue bell cookie doughA national tragedy occurred today when Blue Bell recalled all of its products nationwide. All Blue Bell products may be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The recall began when bacteria was found in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream half gallons produced on March 17, 2015, and March 27, 2015. The company recalled all products as a precaution when five people became sick in Kansas and three in Texas, because the bacteria was present in different plants.
Nationwide? I remember when George W. Bush moved from Austin to the White House, he had Blue Bell products flown up to Washington. Blue Bell belonged only to Texas. When did it go international?
The Blue Bell recall states, “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.”
Well that’s a little redundant. Aren’t Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming international locations?
The problem is listeria, which can be fatal for people with compromised immune systems and the elderly.
“Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women,” the recall says. It doesn’t say how it would affect pregnant men.
So no Blue Bell for awhile while the company cleans and retrains and expands its testing, it said, by 800 percent.
Props to the company for taking such extreme caution, but what the hell am I supposed to do for dinner tonight? I guess I’ll stop off at Braum’s.