First Major Recall in 108 years
Blue Bell Creameries and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams are major family-owned companies that are well known all throughout America. Both companies, with main placements in two different states, Blue Bell being in Texas and Jeni in Ohio, had recently recalled all their products from the shelves of retail stores countrywide. Both companies had to do this because of the recent discovery of listeria monocytogenes in the ice creams.
10 illnesses in four different states, and three deaths have been reported to be linked to Blue Bell ice cream. However, none so far are linked to Jeni’s ice cream according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Based upon what we know now, there is no connection between these two ice cream companies nor any reason to suspect that ice cream as a whole poses any special foodborne disease risk,” said CDC’s Dr. Robert Tauxe.
The recent recalls of the two ice cream companies is unusual due to the fact that Listeria is rarely found in ice cream because it cannot grow at freezing temperatures.
“At this time, the FDA does not believe that the finding of Listeria in one sample of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is related to the outbreak and recall associated with Bluebell Ice Cream. We are continuing to investigate both situations and will provide updated information to consumers as we learn more,” said Food and Drug Administration spokesman Jeff Ventura. John Lowe, Jeni’s CEO said they are working with its suppliers to determine if the Listeria was introduced by one of the ingredients the company is using. “We will not reopen the kitchen until we can assure the safety of our customers,” John Lowe said in a statement.
“We are encouraged that the early indications suggest we have found it and can focus on eradicating it,” said John Lowe on a statement on the company’s website. The FDA said it still has open investigations in all three plants and will evaluate Bluebell progress in removing the existing Listeria. “Despite these recalls, it is important to understand that ice cream in the United States is generally safe,” said the FDA’s Jeff Ventura.
FSA Connection
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Sadie is a student at Freedom High School. She is new to the school and is originally from Brandon Florida. Her hobbies are practicing on the piano, writing...
