Last month, Blue Bell Creameries opted to withdraw all products from the market after testing revealed potential Listeria contamination. The company is taking all necessary measures to prevent the bacteria from posing a further threat.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, over two dozen food products potentially containing Listeria have been recalled this year. The list consists of foods such as hummus, frozen spinach, smoothie kits and, of course, ice cream. The Listeria monocytogenes organism causes a life-threatening infection called Listeriosis. Pregnant women and their newborns, adults 65 and older, and others with weakened immune systems run a high risk of catching the disease. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Listeria may even cause miscarriages and stillbirths.
Blue Bell encouraged buyers to cease consumption and return products to the store where purchased. The president and CEO, Paul Kruse, declared the company’s commitment “to doing the 100 percent right thing.” Blue Bell has since implemented enhanced safety procedures that involve better cleaning and sanitizing of equipment, improved testing procedures, and additional employee training. Unfortunately, the process to resolve production plant concerns is taking longer than the company anticipated and 36% of the Blue Bell workforce is being laid-off. Although the entire operation is expensive, it is worth the cost. As of April 21, a total of ten cases of Listeriosis linked to the outbreak had been confirmed, three of which resulted in death.
This particular scenario took place in production plants, but the risks are just as great in a restaurant setting. One study cited a two year-old-girl catching Listeria from consuming chocolate milk at a restaurant. The business served milk from a contaminated dairy. Notwithstanding, research indicates that most food borne illnesses result from food handler error. The most effective prevention method is properly training employees.
—Jennifer Riding
