Report: Feds Probe Blue Bell Over Listeria Outbreak

Federal prosecutors are reportedly investigating executives with Blue Bell ice cream over a listeria outbreak earlier this year.

CBS News reported Tuesday that the Justice Department is looking into the executives' knowledge about potential food safety hazards at the company's facilities.

Blue Bell Creameries recalled its products and shut down its plants in Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama after listeriosis linked to its products killed three people and sickened several others.

Investigations found evidence of listeria in all three plants along with other safety and sanitation problems, and records showed that executives knew of repeated findings of listeria at its Oklahoma plant in 2013.

The outbreak prompted a series of lawsuits against the Brenham, Texas-based company and led to layoffs of about half of its workforce of 3,900.

Blue Bell has since reopened each plant and its ice cream is returning to store shelves.