Food Safety
search
Ask Food Safety AI
cart
facebook twitter linkedin instagram youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • NEWSLETTERS >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
    • ASK FSM AI
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
News

FDA Reports Show Blue Bell Food Safety Violations Dating Back 8 Years

May 22, 2015

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released four inspection reports of Blue Bell Creameries facilities from 2007 to 2012 after a records request by the media was granted. These reports--which show a multitude of problems--are in addition to previously released inspection data collected before and after Blue Bell’s ice cream recall issued in March.

This new set of reports include inspections at Blue Bell’s plants in Brenham, TX and Broken Arrow, OK, along with two of the company’s warehouses in Houston and San Antonio.

These reports do not show that Listeria was found at Blue Bell’s plants at the time, but they do show a number of food safety violations noted by Texas health officials. The reports outline proof of condensation dripping onto ice cream ingredients right before packaging and shipping in 2009 at the Brenham plant. Later in 2012, an employee at the Broken Arrow plant was seen handling food and food contact surfaces after scratching his head and adjusting his clothing.

Blue Bell spokesperson Joe Robertson told the Dallas Morning News, “Blue Bell has a long history of working cooperatively with regulatory agencies; we take inspections seriously and make corrections to improve our operations based on findings in those inspections. Blue Bell is currently in the midst of a comprehensive review of all our operations, policies, employee training and cleaning procedures to help give regulatory agencies and the public confidence that when our products return to market, they will be safe.”

To date, Blue Bell’s Listeria contaminated ice cream products have caused 10 hospitalizations in four states, in addition to three deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Blue Bell’s operations are at a standstill--the only products in production are strictly for testing purposes. Due to lack of work, the company announced that layoffs and furloughs will occur. It will likely be “several months” before Blue Bell products are back on store shelves, according to CEO Paul Kruse.
 


Author(s): Staff

Looking for quick answers on food safety topics?
Try Ask FSM, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask FSM →

Share This Story

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Food Type
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Personal Hygiene/Handwashing
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Management
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to Newsletters
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • The image shows a variety of fresh produce packaged in plastic trays and wrap.
    Sponsored byWaters Corporation

    PFAS-Free Food Packaging by August 2026

  • This image displays a multi-stage water filtration system designed to remove contaminants from drinking water.
    Sponsored byWaterdrop Filter

    The 4.0 ppt Era: Future-Proofing Your Food Supply Chain Against "Forever Chemicals"

  • The image displays a bottling plant production line, commonly used in the beverage industry for filling and packaging soft drinks.
    Sponsored byBIOIONIX

    Sustainability with ROI: A Beverage Producer Case Study in Water Savings

Popular Stories

recalled Pâté en Croûte products from France

Fatal Listeriosis Outbreak in France Linked to RTE Meats

ensuring ready-to-eat food safety eBook

eBook | Ensuring Ready-to-Eat Food Safety from Processing to Retail

RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese product

Multistate E. coli Outbreak Likely Caused by Raw Cheese, but Manufacturer Refuses to Recall

Events

March 26, 2026

Continuous Pathogen Control: Enhancing Sanitation and Environmental Monitoring in Food Processing

Live: March 26, 2026, at 2:00 pm EST: This session explores the role of continuous airborne pathogen control technology in supporting sanitation and environmental monitoring programs within food processing environments.

March 31, 2026

Regulatory Risk, Ingredient Safety, and GRAS: What Companies Need to Act on Now

Live: March 31, 2026, at 11:00 am EDT: From this webinar, attendees will recognize patterns in food policy affecting dietary guidelines, UPFs, state legislative actions, and expected GRAS reform.

April 8, 2026

Foreign Material Contamination: Why In-Line Reinspection Isn't Enough

Live: April 8, 2026, at 11:00 am EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn why reinspecting with in-line equipment is not sufficient when it comes to potential foreign material contamination.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products

Related Articles

  • FDA Says Blue Bell Listeria Contamination Dates Back to March 2013

    See More
  • CRF Foods: FDA Reports Show Violations Since 2014

    See More
  • Blue Bell and the Very Real Impact of the Food Safety Modernization Act

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 1119053595.jpg

    Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the Global Supply Chain, 2E

  • 1119160553.jpg

    Food Safety: Innovative Analytical Tools for Safety Assessment

  • 9781498721776.jpg

    Handbook of Food Processing: Food Safety, Quality, and Manufacturing Processes

See More Products

Related Directories

  • We R Food Safety Inc.

    Scalable, affordable and fully customizable software designed by industry experts and backed by a world-class team of consultants and support personnel. Our proprietary software modernizes your food safety systems, provides your staff real-time data and visibility. We have the ability to construct custom reporting providing you information that is important to your business.
  • BioSafe Systems

    BioSafe Systems provides food safety solutions with peroxyacetic acid (PAA) and Smart Technology. Our advance chemistry and OxyFusion, on-site, on-demand PAA generator, automates food safety compliance, reduce cost, and increase productivity. Our Smart Technology automates monitoring, dosing, and generates customizable data reports that are blockchain compatible. We continue to innovate solutions for food safety.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

Newsletters | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing