Three patients die from contaminated hospital ice cream
Three people have died during their hospital stays as the result of eating contaminated Blue Bell ice cream. The patients, who were all admitted to…
Hospital ice cream has caused several deaths. (Shutterstock)
Three people have died during their hospital stays as the result of eating contaminated Blue Bell ice cream. The patients, who were all admitted to Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita for unrelated causes, became seriously ill with listeriosis, a condition caused by the bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes.
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According to a consumer warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 5 people overall have become sick, and the contaminated products have been traced back to the Blue Bell Creameries production facility in Brenham, Texas.
“FDA was notified that these three strains and four other rare strains of Listeria monocytogenes were found in samples of Blue Bell Creameries single serving Chocolate Chip Country Cookie Sandwich and the Great Divide Bar ice cream products collected by the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control during routine product sampling at a South Carolina distribution center, on February 12, 2015,” the agency said. “These products are manufactured at Blue Bell Creameries Brenham facility.”
A subsequent investigation by the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the earlier findings and also identified a third single-serving ice cream product, Scoops, to be included on the list of suspected contaminated items.
Listeriosis is a food-borne illnesses typically associated with processed meat and unpasteurized milk products. It is a potentially seriously illnesses, according to the Mayo Clinic, particularly for individuals who are pregnant or have compromised immune systems. Because the bacteria responsible for this illness can survive cold temperatures, such as those associated with ice cream, listeriosis can persist in an environment for a long time. Symptoms of illness usually include:
Listeriosis is commonly associated with unpasteurized dairy products. (Shutterstock)
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Changes in alertness
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
“Listeriosis is a rare but serious illness caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes,” stated the FDA. “Anyone who experiences fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms, or develops fever and chills after eating the ice cream should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about any history of eating the ice cream. Symptoms can appear from a few days up to a few weeks after consumption of the contaminated food.”
SEE ALSO: Possible listeria contamination sparks recall
Blue Bell has taken action to pull the contaminated products from store shelves, but officials are cautioning consumers not to trust the brand if they continue to see it. “Contaminated ice cream products may still be in the freezers of consumers, institutions, and retailers, given that these products can have a shelf life of up to 2 years. CDC recommends that consumers do not eat products that Blue Bell Creameries removed from the market, and institutions and retailers should not serve or sell them,” stated the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Via Christi hospitals have denied any pre-existing knowledge of the product recall and have since removed all of the contaminated products form their inventory, according to a spokesperson.
