Bad news for fans of the Blue Bell ice cream company, as after a number of Listeria cases were reported originating from their ice cream, the company is now being investigated. As it turns out, Blue Bell management knew, didn’t care about unsanitary conditions.
Complaints against Blue Bell’s management
After several complaints, as well as three cases of Listeria were reported to originate in some of the company’s factories, authorities have decided to take measures in order to investigate the potential irresponsible behavior.
The reports so far are quite concerning.
So far, the FDA has looked into Blue Bell’s factories in Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama, and they have come up with a number of troubling findings.
Multiple reports were recorded of condensation and rain water dripping into the ice cream vats, and the management seemed not to care.
A worker working for one of the factories reported last October that he went to his manager about a leak he had observed that was just trickling down. Eventually, the rain water from the roof made its way into the ice cream.
After a different worker approached his manager about a similar issue, the superior retorted asking him if he had nothing better to do that to complain all day. This brought him to the conclusion that production was more important than hygiene for the company.
After 3 deaths and several other infections over the span of four states caused by Listeria were tracked to Blue Bell’s ice cream, it was revealed that the management knew about the bacteria being present on their machinery and products. It was also reported on about 16 separate occasions, but no measures were taken.
The team currently investigating the company was also involved in the Peanut Corporation of America scandal.
Previous similar cases
Despite the fact that at least three other of their factories were shut down in the past due to uncleanliness, Blue Bell continued its business without minding any basic hygiene rules.
This event is similar to what happened in the Peanut Corporation of America scandal.
In that case, after a large number of salmonella cases were tracked back to the company, it was revealed that when Stewart Parnell, the company’s executive officer, was announced that there was salmonella present in their peanuts, he just sent everyone e-mails to ship them anyway.
Stewart Parnell got 28 years in prison, while brother, who was also responsible, got 20. This probably a very similar fate to what is going to happen to the people responsible for the deaths and infections caused by the Blue Bell ice cream.
Image source: Flickr
