A routine health inspection at Blue Bell Creameries Plant in Brenham, Texas uncovered Listeria monocytogenes contamination throughout production facilities linked to three deaths, resulting in voluntarily shut down all three production plants and recalled all products.
Blue Bell Creameries, the beloved Texas-based ice cream brand, voluntarily shut down all of its production facilities in April 2015 after Listeria monocytogenes contamination was linked to 10 illnesses and 3 deaths across four states. The company recalled all of its products in the first complete recall in its 108-year history. FDA inspections of the Brenham, Texas facility found widespread Listeria contamination in the production environment.
Health department closures fall into two categories: voluntary (restaurant closes to correct problems) and ordered (inspectors determine the public health risk is immediate). An ordered closure means conditions were severe enough that continued operation posed an imminent danger to customers.
According to the inspection report, FDA investigators found Listeria on equipment that had been cleaned and sanitized, indicating a persistent environmental contamination. Inspectors also noted that some of the implicated products had been manufactured and distributed over an extended period before the recall was initiated. The CDC / Houston Chronicle reported that Listeria can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperatures, making ice cream products particularly dangerous when contaminated.
The state health department confirmed the findings in a formal notice of violation issued to the franchise owner. Under state health code, critical violations must be corrected before reinspection, and the facility remains subject to unannounced follow-up visits for six months.
Consumers who experience symptoms of foodborne illness after dining out — including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever within 72 hours of a meal — should contact their local health department to file a report. These reports are critical for triggering inspections.
Want to know if your favorite restaurant passes health inspections? Check inspection scores for any restaurant at InspectorEats.com before your next meal.
Ultimately, Blue Bell paid $19.35 million in a deferred prosecution agreement; the CEO resigned and the company spent 18 months cleaning and retesting before reopening. The episode prompted renewed scrutiny of food safety practices across the industry.