Blue Bell Cites Ingredient Supplier in Ice Cream Recalls

Aspen Hills, Blue Bunny, Blue Bell, Publix, and Chocolate Shoppe are all voluntarily recalling ice cream products that were made with a cookie dough ingredient supplied by Aspen Hills, Inc., due to the potential for them to contain Listeria monocytogenes. 

No illnesses have been reported to date. As the first producer to recall product, Blue Bell initiated an expanded recall after Aspen Hills provided additional information on affected cookie dough lots. In the company announcement posted on FDA's website, Blue Bell stated that although its products in the marketplace passed its test and hold program, which requires that finished product samples from a batch test negative for Listeria monocytogenes before the batch can be released, Blue Bell is initiating this recall out of an abundance of caution. This recall is being conducted in cooperation with the FDA.

Blue Bell identified a potential problem through intensified internal testing and notified Aspen Hills. Aspen Hills then issued a voluntary recall of the products supplied to Blue Bell. 

Although Aspen Hills voluntarily recalled some ready-to-eat cookie-dough products, according to the Wall Street Journal, the company said there is no evidence of exposure but "it is 'acting out of an abundance of caution' after it found issues including failure to wear proper uniforms and potential cross-contamination."

Links to the voluntary recalls listing specific products and distribution include:

• Aspen Hills
• Blue Bell
• Blue Bunny
• Chocolate Shoppe
• Publix