Blue Bell Ice Cream recalled for potentially fatal contamination [April 2015]

The FDA has announced a nation-wide recall of Blue Bell Ice Cream. The recall was voluntarily made after Blue Bell Creameries found out many of their ice creams had been contaminated with an organism that can be very dangerous for children and pregnant women. The organism in question is called Listeria monocytogenes.

Why to watch out

According to the FDA, Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Which states have to watch out?

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming.

How to stay safe

The UPC code and use-by date on your ice cream can tell you if it is safe or not. Visit the FDA’s recall page to get the full details.