Ice Cream! Its something most everybody knows and loves. It's what brings people together, makes a break-up hurt just a tad less, it's the perfect desert that can be paired with most anything. Ice Cream. To some Ben&Jerry are their best friends, some savor the richness of Haagen-Dazs, and some love their local ice creams. Not everyone, though, knows Blue Bell but to those who do, Blue Bell is the only ice cream brand that really matters.
The Company
Blue Bell Creameries is an ice cream company that was founded in 1907 in Brenham, Texas. It was originally only sold locally in Texas but it expanded and is now sold everywhere in Texas and in 23 other states. "How does this company compare to other brands?" you might ask. Well, despite not being sold all across the US, Blue Bell has been eaten aboard the International Space Station and at Camp David. It also is the third highest selling ice cream brand in the US. So hows that for a small town Texas ice cream creamery!
The Problem
In the Spring of 2015, for the first time in 108 years, Blue Bell sent out a recall of their products . This was due to a bacterial called Listeria monocytogenes. The CDC reported a total of 10 cases across four states infected with this bacteria. In all ten patients were hospitalized and three of the patients from Kansas died. The initial recall was only for Blue Bell's Chocolate Chip Country Cookie Sandwich, the Great Divide Bar, and Scoops ice cream products. After this, Blue Bell started to test their creameries and found that there was the potential of other products being contaminated. So, they gradually started to recall the rest of their products, until finally there were none left on the shelves. That was a sad day for many, many, many Blue Bell lovers.
The Solution
Blue Bell recalled and started testing all their creameries. Texans are tough. They weren't gonna let this go. They tested and retrained. But as of early Summer, people were still worried because there was not a clue as to when sales would being again. But on July 14, Texas business man, Sid Bass, became an investor and partner with Blue Bell. Also known as, Ice Cream's knight in shining armor. Things started rolling along. They are now implementing even more additional safety procedures and testing to make sure that this doesn't happen again.
Finish Line is Just Within Reach
As of August 12, Blue Bell's ice cream trucks have been spotted on the roads again. It's a day that Blue Bell lovers will not forget, a day that says, that soon the creamy deliciousness of Blue Bell can be enjoyed once again.
Oh and to those of you who have never tried Blue Bell, you are missing out on some of the best ice cream ever.
For More info you can visit:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencie...
