MONTGOMERY, Ala. — It is taking longer than expected for Blue Bell Ice Cream to make its way back into groceries, and the company's president said Thursday it is still months away "at a minimum."
The Blue Bell production plants in Brenham, Texas, Broken Arrow, Okla., and Sylacauga, Ala., are closed because of possible listeria contamination, and no ice cream is being produced at this time
Meanwhile, a government investigation released Thursday says Blue Bell had evidence of listeria bacteria in its Oklahoma plant as far back as March 2013. The company then continued to ship ice cream produced in that plant after what the Food and Drug Administration says was inadequate cleaning.
Three listeria deaths in Kansas are now linked to the ice cream. The company recalled all of its products last month, following several smaller recalls.