Blue Bell, health officials agree on terms to resume selling ice cream

SAN ANTONIO – Texas health officials on Thursday finalized with Blue Bell Creameries the steps the company must take before it can resume selling ice cream from its Brenham plant. 

Blue Bell shut down its three creameries in late April after Listeria was discovered in some ice cream products.

According to a news release from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the company must notify the health agency at least two weeks of its intent prior to producing ice cream for sale so that health officials can conduct a full assessment of the company's progress and test results.

Blue Bell must also conduct trial production runs that will be tested separately by DSHS and the company for Listeria, the release stated.

The products must consistently test negative before they can be distributed to the public, the release stated. A trial run with negative test results must occur for each production line before the line can begin making ice cream for sale.

There was no immediate word from Blue Bell when it planned to resume ice cream production.

To learn more about the agreement, click here.