Blue Bell Faces, Kelly Bradshaw, 50, of Waco, thinks Blue Bell will recover nicely from the public relations disaster it now faces over having to recall all its products because of a listeria scare.
“Who doesn’t like Blue Bell?” asked Bradshaw, who was shopping Tuesday at the H-E-B store on Wooded Acres Drive.
She said the Texas-based ice cream retailer has cultivated for itself a family persona and a reputation for quality that will serve it well as its tries to regain the public’s trust.
In that store, a letter from Blue Bell President and CEO Paul Kruse was taped to a freezer case that no longer contained Blue Bell merchandise.
In part, it said, “We are doing everything in our power to have your favorite products back on these shelves as soon as possible.”
After engaging in limited recalls over several weeks, Blue Bell on Monday announced it would take everything off the market, including ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks. The ice cream company made the decision after discovering listeria, a dangerous bacteria, in samples from two half-gallons of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.
“We’re committed to doing the 100 percent right thing, and the best way to do that is to take all of our products off the market until we can be confident that they are all safe,” Kruse said in a statement. “Our entire history has been about making the very best and highest- quality ice cream, and we intend to fix the problem.”
Warren Brattlof, 72, who also visited the H-E-B on Wooded Acre Drive, said, “In a way, I feel sorry for Blue Bell.”
He said he has toured one of the company’s creameries in Brenham with his church and came away impressed with its commitment to cleanliness.
“I think the public will welcome back Blue Bell ice cream as soon as they find the source of this bacteria and take steps to eliminate it,” he said.
“Blue Bell is my favorite,” said Allyson Bayer, 23, who was eyeing her choices of ice cream at H-E-B and not particularly pleased with her options.
She said she thinks loyal fans of the treat will welcome its return and not hold grudges against the company.
At Waco’s Target Greatland store, a sizable chunk of space in the freezer section once occupied by Blue Bell sat empty.
Paula Lucko, who carries Blue Bell in her Lucko’s Grocery in Malone, noticed that the cartons had been pulled.
“I’m sure when I get back home, I’ll be calling them about what I need to do with mine,” she said.
“They are good people who sell a good product. This kind of thing happens, and I would imagine they will recover.”
Jenny Vandorf, a spokeswoman for Blue Bell, said in a phone interview that the company is disposing of the ice cream in sanitary landfills and “other appropriate disposal facilities.”
Just this week, she said, Blue Bell launched a procedure called “test and hold,” in which products are randomly tested throughout the day for the presence of listeria.
“Our main focus is getting the safest possible product out there. We’re heartbroken that this has happened,” Vandorf said. “Our customers are so loyal, and this fun treat is such a big part of their lives, that we want to provide all the reassurance possible that it is safe to eat. This test is part of that process.”
So far, three people in Kansas have died, and 10 others in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona have fallen ill from bacteria that may have come from Blue Bell products. All five of the people in Kansas who got sick were patients being treated at the same hospital for unrelated causes who consumed products containing Blue Bell ice cream.
Listeria primarily affects young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The impact of Blue Bell’s recall goes well beyond grocery and convenience stores.
John Hayes, owner of a shop called Waffle Cone in Copperas Cove, said he exclusively uses Blue Bell. He received a phone call Monday night from the company letting him know a local driver would be picking up his 200 gallons of recalled ice cream this week.
“It is the third recall in the last month,” said Hayes, quoted by CNN.com. “I was upset, but more disappointed.”
In Waco, Julia Meek sells Blue Bell ice cream and freshly made cookies in her Pokey O’s Cookies & Ice Cream truck that she parks downtown.
With Blue Bell no longer available, she has turned to H-E-B’s Creamy Creations ice cream in hopes of keeping her customers satisfied.
She said the Texas-based ice cream retailer has cultivated for itself a family persona and a reputation for quality that will serve it well as its tries to regain the public’s trust.
In that store, a letter from Blue Bell President and CEO Paul Kruse was taped to a freezer case that no longer contained Blue Bell merchandise.
In part, it said, “We are doing everything in our power to have your favorite products back on these shelves as soon as possible.”
After engaging in limited recalls over several weeks, Blue Bell on Monday announced it would take everything off the market, including ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks. The ice cream company made the decision after discovering listeria, a dangerous bacteria, in samples from two half-gallons of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.
“We’re committed to doing the 100 percent right thing, and the best way to do that is to take all of our products off the market until we can be confident that they are all safe,” Kruse said in a statement. “Our entire history has been about making the very best and highest- quality ice cream, and we intend to fix the problem.”
Warren Brattlof, 72, who also visited the H-E-B on Wooded Acre Drive, said, “In a way, I feel sorry for Blue Bell.”
He said he has toured one of the company’s creameries in Brenham with his church and came away impressed with its commitment to cleanliness.
“I think the public will welcome back Blue Bell ice cream as soon as they find the source of this bacteria and take steps to eliminate it,” he said.
“Blue Bell is my favorite,” said Allyson Bayer, 23, who was eyeing her choices of ice cream at H-E-B and not particularly pleased with her options.
She said she thinks loyal fans of the treat will welcome its return and not hold grudges against the company.
At Waco’s Target Greatland store, a sizable chunk of space in the freezer section once occupied by Blue Bell sat empty.
Paula Lucko, who carries Blue Bell in her Lucko’s Grocery in Malone, noticed that the cartons had been pulled.
“I’m sure when I get back home, I’ll be calling them about what I need to do with mine,” she said.
“They are good people who sell a good product. This kind of thing happens, and I would imagine they will recover.”
Jenny Vandorf, a spokeswoman for Blue Bell, said in a phone interview that the company is disposing of the ice cream in sanitary landfills and “other appropriate disposal facilities.”
Just this week, she said, Blue Bell launched a procedure called “test and hold,” in which products are randomly tested throughout the day for the presence of listeria.
“Our main focus is getting the safest possible product out there. We’re heartbroken that this has happened,” Vandorf said. “Our customers are so loyal, and this fun treat is such a big part of their lives, that we want to provide all the reassurance possible that it is safe to eat. This test is part of that process.”
So far, three people in Kansas have died, and 10 others in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona have fallen ill from bacteria that may have come from Blue Bell products. All five of the people in Kansas who got sick were patients being treated at the same hospital for unrelated causes who consumed products containing Blue Bell ice cream.
Listeria primarily affects young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The impact of Blue Bell’s recall goes well beyond grocery and convenience stores.
John Hayes, owner of a shop called Waffle Cone in Copperas Cove, said he exclusively uses Blue Bell. He received a phone call Monday night from the company letting him know a local driver would be picking up his 200 gallons of recalled ice cream this week.
“It is the third recall in the last month,” said Hayes, quoted by CNN.com. “I was upset, but more disappointed.”
In Waco, Julia Meek sells Blue Bell ice cream and freshly made cookies in her Pokey O’s Cookies & Ice Cream truck that she parks downtown.
With Blue Bell no longer available, she has turned to H-E-B’s Creamy Creations ice cream in hopes of keeping her customers satisfied.
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