Today our machines cranked up and we began evaluating our enhanced production processes. The money would offset the estimated $100 million Blue Bell has lost since the nationwide recall.
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Blue Bell representatives had said trials at its Sylacauga, Alabama plant would begin this week, but that didn’t happen.
Blue Bell has announced machines at the Brenham-based company’s Alabama plant are up and running. Finally, Blue Bell’s president and CEO Paul Kruse pulled all Blue Bell products off the market on April 20.
Production will resume on a limited basis as the company seeks to confirm that new procedures, facility enhancements and employee training have been effective. In response to an email inquiry, spokeswoman Jenny Van Dorf said, “We hope to resume production there [Sylacauga] before the end of the month, but have not confirmed a date at this time”.
There’s no word yet on when sales will begin, but it does signal progress by the company in cleaning up its tainted production facilities. From here, the company will institute the new “test and hold system” that was part of the deal they made with state health officials in Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma to ensure product safety when they returned to production.
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Blue Bell Creameries products were linked to three deaths in Kansas and seven other cases of listeria illness earlier this year.
