Blue Bell temporarily shuts down plant amid listeriosis outbreak

BRENHAM, TX (KTRK) -- Blue Bell Creameries has announced it is voluntarily suspending operations at the Oklahoma manufacturing plant linked to a listeriosis outbreak, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is recommending everyone to not eat any products from that plant.

In a statement issued Friday, the company said its manufacturing plant in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma will undergo thorough inspection "for any possible problems that may have led to the contamination of some of our ice cream products in the past few weeks."

Blue Bell has recalled several products, including its chocolate, strawberry and vanilla ice cream 3 oz. cups.

"We are taking this step out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing everything possible to provide our consumers with safe products and to preserve the trust we have built with them and their families for more than a century," the company said in a prepared statement.

The ice cream maker says other plants will continue to supply retail stores and institutional customers.

"We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this step may cause, but we believe it is the right thing to do for you, our consumers, who for generations have relied on Blue Bell for the freshest and finest ice cream," the company said in the statement.

Consumers with questions may call 979-836-7977.