Blue Bell Ice Cream Back In Stores In Select Locations

Four months after the company voluntarily started pulling its products from store freezers due to a listeria contamination, Blue Bell Creameries has resumed selling its products in select locations.

Blue Bell ice cream is now available at stores in Houston and Austin (the retailer is based in Texas) and in the company's hometown of Brenham, and it's being sold in parts of Alabama. Some retailers are limiting purchases as Blue Bell rolled out popular flavors including homemade vanilla, cookies 'n cream, Dutch chocolate, and a side-by-side blend of chocolate and vanilla.

The company voluntarily recalled its products in April after they were linked to 10 listeria cases in four states, including three deaths in Kansas. Listeria bacteria can cause serious illness, especially in older adults, pregnant women, and those with weak immune systems.

According to its website, the company collected approximately 8 million gallons of ice cream and ice cream products. Production plants in Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama underwent an extensive cleaning and decontamination, under the regulatory oversight of health officials. The Sylacauga, Alabama plant began producing ice cream in July, while the company announced August 17th it planned to resume distribution to select markets.