Which company recalled Blue Bell ice cream in 2015 after Listeria was found at its Oklahoma plant?

Blue Bell Creameries recalled its ice cream in 2015 after Listeria was found at a production plant in Oklahoma.

The recall followed testing and investigations connected to the company’s plant in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Health officials linked contaminated Blue Bell products to a listeriosis outbreak involving patients at a Kansas hospital. Three people died, although the illnesses involved multiple medical conditions.

Blue Bell expanded the recall nationwide and temporarily stopped production at all of its facilities. The company discarded products, cleaned plants and implemented additional testing before gradually returning products to stores.

Listeria monocytogenes can survive and grow in refrigerated environments, making it a serious concern for ready-to-eat foods such as ice cream. The incident was notable because frozen products are often mistakenly assumed to be unable to harbor bacteria. Blue Bell later resumed distribution market by market.