Listeria monocytogenes United States · 2015

Listeriosis outbreak linked to Blue Bell Creameries products, United States, 2015

CDC reported 10 people with listeriosis in Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas linked to Blue Bell products. All 10 were hospitalised and 3 died, all in Kansas. Blue Bell recalled all products on the market on 20 April 2015. In 2020 the company pleaded guilty to two misdemeanour counts of distributing adulterated ice cream products and was sentenced to pay 17.25 million dollars in criminal penalties, according to the US Department of Justice. Its former president agreed in 2023 to plead guilty to a misdemeanour, according to the US Department of Justice and Reuters.^1,2,3,4,5

Counts as reported on 10 June 2015.¹ Food vehicle: Blue Bell brand ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks. Company named in official findings: Blue Bell Creameries.

Timeline

1. 20 April 2015Blue Bell voluntarily recalled all products on the market made at all its facilities.¹
2. 7 May 2015FDA released inspection findings for Blue Bell facilities in Brenham, Texas, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Sylacauga, Alabama.¹
3. 10 June 2015CDC final update.¹

Regulatory and legal outcomes

1. 1 May 2020US Department of Justice, Western District of Texas. Blue Bell Creameries L.P. agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanour counts of distributing adulterated ice cream products, with a criminal fine and forfeiture of 17.25 million dollars and 2.1 million dollars to resolve civil False Claims Act allegations, a total of 19.35 million dollars.²
2. 13 May 2020US District Court, Western District of Texas. Blue Bell pleaded guilty before US District Judge Robert Pitman.³
3. 17 September 2020US District Court, Western District of Texas. Judge Pitman sentenced Blue Bell Creameries L.P. to pay 17.25 million dollars in criminal penalties.³
4. 1 May 2020US Department of Justice. Former Blue Bell president Paul Kruse was charged with seven felony counts in connection with alleged efforts to conceal the contamination from customers. DOJ said all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.^2,3
5. 20 October 2020US District Court, Western District of Texas. Paul Kruse was indicted separately over his alleged role in concealing from customers what the company knew, according to DOJ.⁴
6. August 2022US District Court, Western District of Texas. The trial of Paul Kruse resulted in a mistrial, according to DOJ.⁴
7. March 2023US Department of Justice and US District Court, Western District of Texas (Judge Robert Pitman). A plea agreement and a criminal information charging Paul Kruse with a misdemeanour under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act were filed, and a plea and sentencing hearing was set for 28 March, according to a DOJ case page updated on 15 March 2023. Reuters reported on 9 March 2023 that the agreement provided for a 100,000 dollar fine and no prison time, subject to court approval.^4,5

Sources

1. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Blue Bell Creameries Products (Final Update) (10 June 2015)
2. US Department of Justice, Blue Bell Creameries Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay $19.35 Million for Ice Cream Listeria Contamination (1 May 2020)
3. US Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Branch, Blue Bell Creameries (case page) (20 October 2020)
4. US Department of Justice, US v. Blue Bell Creameries, US v. Paul Kruse (related) (15 March 2023)
5. Reuters via Insurance Journal, Ex-Blue Bell CEO to Plead Guilty to Misdemeanor Over 2015 Listeria Outbreak (9 March 2023)