Blue Bell has resumed limited operations at its flagship creamery in the Central Texas town of Brenham, seven months after shutting down production out of fear of listeria contamination.
A Blue Bell Creameries statement Wednesday said ice cream is being made at the Brenham plant. The output is being monitored and tested to confirm that new hygiene procedures, facility enhancements and employee training are working. No date has been set for the output from the plant about 70 miles northwest of Houston to go on sale.
Blue Bell voluntary recalled all products in April after the treats were linked to 10 listeria cases, including three deaths in Kansas.
The company faced intense regulatory scrutiny during cleanup and decontamination.
Seventy Brenham workers on paid furlough have returned to work, but laid-off workers haven't returned. Plants in Alabama and Oklahoma previously resumed production.
