Blue Bell must meet with the Texas Department of Health and Human Services before selling ice cream from the Brenham, Texas, plant, according to a release from the department.
Two weeks before Blue Bell intends to start producing ice cream for sale the department must conduct a full assessment of the progress and test results, according to the release. There will also be a trial production where products must test negative for each production line before the company can make ice cream for sale.
State health inspectors will also be on site to regularly evaluate the trial runs and tests, according to the release. For two years, Blue Bell must report any presumptive positive results for Listeria and must implement "test and hold" for all finished products made in Brenham for a year.
The cleaning procedure and sanitation process is also being reviewed by state health officials.
Texas is working with state and national experts to examine frozen dessert manufacturing and identify changes that may be needed to strengthen regulations to protect public health.
Blue Bell released the following statement. You can read it in full, below:
"We are committed to meeting the high standards and expectations of our customers and our regulatory agencies," said Blue Bell CEO and President Paul Kruse. "State and federal regulatory agencies play an important role in food safety, and we hope that it will be reassuring to our customers that we are working cooperatively with the states of Texas and Oklahoma in taking the necessary steps to bring Blue Bell Ice Cream back to the market."
The CDC reports 10 people had listeriosis related to this outbreak with one in Arizona, one in Oklahoma, five in Kansas and three in Texas. USA Today reported that three Listeria deaths in Kansas are linked to the ice cream.
According to CBS News, Blue Bell had evidence of the listeria bacteria in its Oklahoma manufacturing plant as far back as March 2013.
Read the agreement below. If on mobile, click here.
Blue Bell statement. If on mobile, click here.
