FDA: Blue Bell Knew About Its Listeria Contamination Back in 2013
Beloved southern ice cream-maker Blue Bell just pulled its products a few weeks ago after three deaths and a number of illnesses sparked concerns of Listeria contamination. But apparently, Blue Bell wasn’t exactly taken by surprise: a new report from the Food and Drug Administration claims that the company likely knew about a Listeria contamination as early as 2013—and didn’t do a damn thing about it.
That earliest known contamination reportedly happened at its Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, plant, but apparently, plants in both Brenham and Alabama also “indicated a high likelihood, or ‘presumptive positive’ for listeria on surfaces like floors, pallets used to store and carry ingredients and other non-food-contact surfaces,” according to the Houston Chronicle. All this was followed by “inaction or not enough action” on Blue Bell’s part. In other words, the company may very well have been able to prevent the tragic deaths that occurred. From the Chronicle:
“That’s as bad as it gets,” said Seattle attorney Bill Marler, a food safety expert. “You’re just not doing what you’re supposed to do.” The findings should have prompted Blue Bell to follow up with tests on surfaces that directly contact food, he said.
“It’s almost like they were looking for it in areas that if they found it there they didn’t get in much trouble,” Marler said. “They just didn’t look for it in areas where the risk to the consumer was the highest.”
Blue Bell has yet to comment on the report, but as it stands now, its products are still unavailable in stores. While the company did promise to implement “major plant upgrades and employee training,” it sounds awfully glib knowing officials were fully aware that these are steps that should have been taken years ago.
Image via AP.
