Ice Cream Recalled: 3 Dead After Eating Contaminated Blue Bell Products

Is the frozen treat you're eating safe?

Apparently, it wasn't for about five people, three of whom died after consuming ice cream contaminated with bacteria. However, it was also found that the tainted dessert wasn't the only cause of the deaths.

"Three patients at a Kansas hospital have died after eating Blue Bell ice cream tainted with listeria, but food-borne illness was not the sole cause of their deaths," the Los Angeles Times reported.

"These people had been in and out of the hospital for other reasons," explained Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Sara Belfry. "This was a contributing cause, not the only cause."

The publication also said that four of those infected "drank milkshakes made with a single serving of Blue Bell's Scoops ice cream at the hospital," as they were treated there for unrelated health issues, which could not be disclosed due to patient confidentiality laws. This fact reportedly "strongly suggests" the condition was caught at the hospital.

"Officials have not released the names of the five patients at Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita, Kan., who developed listeriosis in after eating products from one production line at the Blue Bell creamery in Brenham, Texas," The Wall Street Journal said.

On the other hand, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that three of those infected were women and all all five were older adults.

The CDC further revealed that four of the five patients ingested milkshakes "made with a Blue Bell ice cream product called Scoops in the month before the infection."

An FDA check showed that listeria bacteria were present in Scoops samples, as well as "Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Country Cookies, Great Divide Bars, Sour Pop Green Apple Bars, Cotton Candy Bars, Vanilla Stick Slices, Almond Bars and No Sugar Added Moo Bars."

Blue Bell Creameries have subsequently pull out the said products off stores and hospitals selling the said items - a first for the 108-year-old ice cream maker.

"The company has also shut down the production line where the products were made," Reuters noted.

However, the recall does not include the "half gallons, quarts, pints, cups, three-gallon ice cream or the majority of take-home frozen snack novelties," the company announced, as quoted by LA Times.

How did the bacteria get into the ice cream?

"Likely what happened is the piece of machinery was contaminated. The liquid form of the ice cream goes through the machine when it's not yet frozen, but around 40 degrees, and it's a great place for [listeria] to grow," speculated food safety lawter Bill Marler.

Listeriosis, a life-threatening food-borne infection, is caused by "eating food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes," WSJ said. Those with weak immune systems are particularly vulnerable to this condition.

Listeria is the kind that thrives very well in chiller temperatures, even at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Those infected with this bacteria may experience fever, muscle aches, as well as diarrhea and other gastrointestinal conditions, according to Reuters.
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