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Second ice cream maker issues recall over listeria

By Danielle Haynes
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream recalled all its products after a sample tested positive for listeria. Photo courtesy Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream/Facebook
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream recalled all its products after a sample tested positive for listeria. Photo courtesy Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream/Facebook

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 24 (UPI) -- Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is recalling all of its products after a sample tested positive for listeria, the company announced Thursday.

The company is the second ice cream maker in a week to voluntarily pull all its products from store shelves. It comes on the heels of a similar announcement by Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries.

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Jeni's said all ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet and ice cream sandwiches in all flavors and sizes were being pulled and all ice cream shops were being closed.

The decision was made after the Nebraska Department of Agriculture randomly collected a sample at a Whole Foods in Lincoln, Neb., and detected listeria. The company said it was not aware of any illnesses being linked to the recalled products.

Jeni's said the recall was being conducted "out of an abundance of caution."

"We have decided to recall everything currently on retailer shelves, and we are closing our scoop shops until we are 100 percent confident every item we sell is safe. We have called in experts to help us find the root cause. We will be working with our suppliers to determine if the bacteria was introduced by one of the ingredients we use. We will not reopen the kitchen until we can ensure the safety of our customers," said John Lowe, CEO of Jeni's.

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"Our top priority is guaranteeing the safety of all consumers by taking every possible precaution."

Jeni's Splended Ice Creams is based out of Columbus, Ohio, and specializes in artisan flavors of ice cream and other frozen treats.

Meanwhile, Blue Bell Creameries on Thursday announced it was shutting down all four of its production facilities in Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas in order to embark on a intensive cleaning program. The company is also conducting a new training program for its employees.

The company gradually expanded its recall since March when it was reported three people sickened with listeria from eating tainted Blue Bell products died in Kansas. Another seven people were hospitalized.

Blue Bell said all products produced this week were being used for testing purposes and would not be sold to the public.

"We've always worked to make the very highest quality ice cream," said Blue Bell CEO and President Paul Kruse. "We intend to make a fresh start and that begins with intensive cleaning and enhanced training. This is a paradigm shifting event at Blue Bell and we want to put in place new systems to drive continuous improvement."

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