Ice cream safe overall despite recalls, U.S. says

WASHINGTON -- Federal health officials say ice cream is still safe to eat despite recalls by two ice cream companies after the discovery of listeria bacteria in their frozen confections.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there's no reason to think that listeria illnesses and deaths linked to Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries and the discovery of listeria in Ohio-based Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams are related.

"Based upon what we know now, there is no connection between these two ice cream companies nor any reason to suspect that ice cream as a whole poses any special foodborne disease risk," said the CDC's Dr. Robert Tauxe.

Blue Bell, which recalled all of its products Monday, is linked to 10 illnesses, including three deaths, in four states. Jeni's ice cream hasn't been linked to any illnesses, but the company recalled its products Thursday after Nebraska health officials found listeria in a sample of ice cream.

On Friday, Jeni's said early testing suggested that listeria was present in other pints from the same batch the Nebraska officials tested and possibly another batch as well. The company said additional testing appeared to show that listeria was present in Jeni's manufacturing plant in Columbus.

Tauxe said the discovery of listeria is a "wake-up call" for the industry, since the bacteria isn't very common in ice cream.

While the hardy bacteria thrive in cooler environments, they can't grow at freezing temperatures.

A Section on 04/26/2015

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