BRENHAM, Texas– Blue Bell Creameries announced Monday it will begin distributing ice cream to some states Aug. 31.
It looks like the Mid-South will have to wait a little longer.
Blue Bell will re-enter parts of 15 states in five phases.
Blue Bell in April voluntarily recalled all products after its treats were linked to 10 listeria illnesses in four states, including three deaths in Kansas.
The company stopped production and started extensive cleaning and decontamination at its plants in Brenham, Alabama and Oklahoma.
The Blue Bell production facility in Sylacauga, Alabama, began producing ice cream in late July.
“Over the past several months we have been working to make our facilities even better and to ensure that everything we produce is safe, wholesome and of the highest quality for you to enjoy,” said Ricky Dickson, the vice president of sales and marketing for Blue Bell. “This is an exciting time for us as we are back to doing what we love…making ice cream!”
The Blue Bell production facility in Sylacauga began producing ice cream in late July.
Additional production facilities in Brenham and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, are still undergoing facility and production process upgrades similar to those made at the Alabama plant.
- Phase One: Brenham, Houston and Austin, Texas, areas, as well as parts of Alabama
- Phase Two: North central Texas and southern Oklahoma
- Phase Three: Southwest Texas and central Oklahoma
- Phase Four: The majority of Texas and southern Louisiana.
- Phase Five: Complete the states of Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas and begin distribution in Arkansas, Florida, northern Louisiana and Mississippi. This phase will also include only parts of the following states: Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.