OFFICIALS SAY LISTERIA MAY BE A FACTOR IN DEATHS, NOT CAUSE, IN BLUE BELL DEATHS

  

 The Kansas Department of Health and Environment now says that a foodborne illness linked to some Blue Bell ice cream products may have contributed to the death of three hospital patients but that listeriosis did not cause the deaths.

The hospital where the patients were being treated, Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita, Kansas would only say that the patients were older adults, citing confidentiality laws, however, did say that three of the five were women. The CDC did not specify the gender of those who died.

Paul Kruse, CEO of Blue Bell, says the company took steps to removed products from the bacteria-infected machines, even before a problem was detected as a precautionary measure.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that five people developed listeria after eating products from one production line at the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham.

A list of the affected novelty items include:

• Chocolate Chip Country Cookie

• Great Divide Bar

• Sour Pop Green Apple Bar

• Cotton Candy Bar

• Scoops

• Vanilla Stick Slices

• Almond Bar

• No Sugar Added Mooo Bar (regular Mooo Bars are not included)

The Texas Department of Health says that facilities like Blue Bell are inspected monthly, and that the agency says that no enforcement action had been previously been taken against the Brenham facility, and it is operating in compliance with food safety laws.