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Blue Bell Creameries announced Wednesday that they plan to start test production of ice cream at the company's Alabama facility in the next several weeks.
The company notified the FDA and Alabama health officials of the plan this week.
When production resumes at the plant, it will be on a limited basis as the company seeks to confirm that new procedures, facility enhancements and employee training have been effective.
In April, the FDA conducted tests at the Sylacauga, Ala., plant and at least one sample showed evidence of the dangerous form of listeria. Sylacauga is a town of about 12,000, about 40 miles southeast of Birmingham. FDA reports previously showed positive tests for listeria at Blue Bell’s plants in Brenham and in Broken Arrow, Okla.
Production was halted at all Blue Bell facilities and an estimated 8 million gallons of ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks were recalled and destroyed in April after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration linked Blue Bell products to 10 cases of listeria, including three deaths in Kansas.
Ice cream produced will be closely monitored and tested. Upon completion of this trial period, Blue Bell will begin building inventory to return to the market.
There is no firm date for the test production to begin, and no firm date for when ice cream sales will resume.
No word yet on if or when production will resume at the Broken Arrow plant.
