Ag Commissioner Issues Additional Blue Bell Warning

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black is alerting Georgians to the expanded recall of all Blue Bell Creameries products currently in the marketplace, due to possible health risk.

The products were distributed in Georgia and include all Blue Bell ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snack products.

Black says that the Georgia Department of Agriculture is actively looking to ensure these recalled products are no longer available in the marketplace.

He goes on to say that if consumers have Blue Bell products in their home freezers, the product should be thrown away or returned to the store where it was purchased for a refund – regardless of whether the product has been eaten without anyone becoming ill.

Also, Black says that if Blue Bell products are still available for sale in any grocery stores, supermarkets or convenience stores, the state Agriculture Department encourages consumers to notify store managers and to contact the GDA Food Safety Division at 404-656-3627 and inspectors will follow up if store names and physical addresses can be provided.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been investigating an ongoing illness outbreak of Listeriosis linked to certain Blue Bell products.

To date, 10 illnesses and three related deaths have been reported in four states, though no related illnesses have been reported in Georgia.

Black’s office says that anyone who experiences fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and/or other gastrointestinal symptoms, or develops fever and chills after eating the recalled products should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about any history of eating Blue Bell products.

The Agriculture Commissioner adds that symptoms can appear from a few days up to a few weeks after consumption of the contaminated food.