FORMER WORKERS ADDRESS BLUE BELL SANITATION ON CBS NEWS
Two laid off workers from Brenham’s Blue Bell Ice Cream plant are telling CBS News that that management ignored their complaints about unsanitary conditions long before the company shut down production because due to a bacteria outbreak.
According to KBTX in Bryan/College Station, Monday night on the CBS Evening News one former employee tells reporter Jim Axelrod that nothing was done in response to complaints he says he made to management.
Axelrod’s report appears on Monday night’s 5:30 national CBS newscast and again on the network’s CBS This Morning program, Tuesday.
Another laid off worker claims that after ice cream produced at the Brenham plant was identified as the source of the contamination, production continued.
In April, Blue Bell halted production and recalled all of its products after the listeria outbreak was traced back to the company.
In a statement to CBS News, Blue Bell said: “We are committed to ensuring that we are producing a safe product through our enhanced manufacturing procedures, including increased focus on sanitation and cleaning, ongoing evaluation from independent microbiologists, voluntary agreements with our state regulators, and finally, a test and hold procedure.”
More segments of the multi-part investigative report will air throughout the week.
Thank You Tom for the comment about Mr. Schult’z August interview. I saw it as well but could not remember what station. So glad you posted this.
The two former employees of Blue Bell may not be the most outstanding citizens of the community. If the story they tell is even partially true then Blue Bell ignored a problem with their ice cream. Instead of addressing the problem Blue Bell and Kruse family put the profits (making money) ahead of the safety of their consumers. It appears that they would have continued operating plants that were obviously unsanitary forever unless they were caught by the government. The fact that the problems described by these former employees was not addressed is alarming.
What is even more alarming is the statements made by Sad and Disappointed:
“Their lack of a sense of loyalty to their former employer and to our community says much about their character. If they every applied for a job at my business I would never hire them and I would state what they did to Blue Bell as the reason.”
Instead of defending and hiding what Blue Bell did these former employees did the right thing by reporting the issues and when their concerns were ignored went to the press. If a job was denied because of their whistle blowing activites then this denial could be problematic for the company denying the job. Their loyality to the customers of Blue Bell can not be questioned since they were trying to protect them from a company that was ignoring problems with their product for the sake of making a DOLLAR. Bluebell should be ashamed of itself!
In fairness, one of the workers was interviewed by KHOU-TV in Houston in August about his attempts to get rehired by Blue Bell. Here is a link to that story:
http://www.khou.com/story/news/2015/08/12/brenham-residents-anxiously-await-blue-bell-plant-reopening/31512701/
I think the one person was more upset because the workers could’ve contacted OSHA and the FDA if their pleas weren’t answered. We honestly don’t know if they did or not, which is why I wish CBS has asked. There are protections for whistleblowers by both organizations.
Here’s where CBS erred, and one of my pet peeves, by not asking that question to show that they were going that extra mile by being a whistleblower and instead complaining to a show about your plight and your complaints reads as you’re untrustworthy and not helpful to business. Now, legally you cannot deny someone a job based on it – as it’s against the law, but being on TV and giving that appearance does read to potential employers as “will they go after us for any reason?”
Honestly I think that is where these former employees erred – if I were in their shoes and this happened, I’d be reporting them to OSHA at least for the safety. I’ve personally done something similar with the BBB regarding a disreputable insurance group. I also won, not only the claim but knowing said company was taken over by a more reputable one. NO job is worth not reporting any issue regardless of risk to your job. You can find another one.
I watched the very one sided report on CBS and was reminded why their news network is not a network of choice for me, objectivity seems like it is a thing of the past. Blue Bell is a great company ran by great people and I have complete faith that they have and will continue to do everything they need to do in order fix this problem. To come back at this late date with a report like seems like some form of attack on a Blue Bell. Where is the reporting showing the changes they have made and the capital investments to make their plants the safety ice cream plants there are.
I also have to say, the two individuals they choose to interview and not exactly what I consider to be credible. Their lack of a sense of loyalty to their former employer and to our community says much about their character. If they every applied for a job at my business I would never hire them and I would state what they did to Blue Bell as the reason.
I have said it time and time again, someone wanted to attack Blue Bell and they did. I’m not saying that Blue Bell isn’t at fault, because we all know that mistakes were made, but the liberal media has beaten this poor horse to death and at a pretty high cost to our small town. Blue Bell will never ever be the same. It is no longer a family owned business; hopefully they haven’t made a deal with the devil…….I love my Blue Bell ice cream and I have many friends and family that work there and I can understand being a disgruntled, laid off employee, but enough is enough. Let them get back to making the best ice cream in the country!!!
Yeah mistakes were made like everywhere else! The liberal media is a pathetic monster and has hurt this town! In fact liberal media has helped ruin this country! I don’t understand why they do this because they live in America also! There will be consequences for all there lies and bias!
Why would a small town business run a story like this, when this is about a local business that helps this town run?? Put all accusations aside, WHY RUN THIS STORY? Can’t we be supportive?
These recent products with listeria issues were recalled and production was halted immediately upon discovery. That is the difference. No one deliberately adds listeria to product, it is in the product thru neglect of improper production procedures and environment. I think ice cream has special attention because it is widely consumed, especially by children and it is a part of American culture. No one is picking on Bluebell, it could have just as easily been Dreyers or BlueBunny whose management failed to react in a timely manner.
I disagree. Blue Bell’s discovery was the commercial sale plant. They shut down line and was given go ahead to continue. There was no problem listed as far as the retail plant, which is why they could continue producing.
And in the case of Sabra and Del Monte – similar issues as Blue Bell and continuing production like them, but NO demands for inspection or outrage. The cheese going on 40 and recall wasn’t prompt. Jeni’sJenu’s splendid ice cream had a second recall due to listeria outbreak. Cleaned it and running again.
Regardless we have to question the story and where coming from.
Maybe they should have went to health department if they were really concerned. Who cares? Lets eat!
I’m among the first to say the company made serious mistakes, paying for it dearly, but does anyone find it interesting that:
A: This story came a full month after the Chronicle’s report,
B: The people interviewed were laid off and
C: There are some questions to the claims, such as oil in ice cream. Wouldn’t that lead to poisonings not unlike the syrup of ipecac or Tylenol recalls? Why – if not safe, didn’t they report it to OSHA, which has protections for whistleblowers?
Add to it since Blue Bell’s recall there has been a multi-state outbreak of listeria due to soft cheeses (sickening more people than BB – 40+, killing one) and two scares leading to recalls (Del Monte and Sabra hummus) but not in-depth investigation or story one starts to wonder the real agenda.
Mac, I totally understand… there have been recalls after recalls for numerous things… Listeria lives all around us and is most likely in our own home… why or who has got it out for Blue Bell??
we are a loyal family with several decades invested in Blue Bell… so not only are they messing with the company, but they are messing with the workers and the workers families… Take a good look into any food service company and you will find something wrong with ALL of them…
those workers speaking out, SHAME on them… How much are they making for what they are saying… They don’t need to “get back” just because they lost their jobs… and really, someone should ask WHEN they worked for Blue Bell and when/how they left… many left on their own several years ago…
Sadden to what this is doing to our family and ALL the families involved at Blue Bell…