BLUE BELL ICE CREAM KANSAS CODE
BLUE BELL ICE CREAM KANSAS TRIAL

Three of the people in Kansas who contracted listeriosis died.įormer Blue Bell president faces 7 felonies, including conspiracy, in 2015 listeria outbreakįelony charges against former Blue Bell Creameries CEO dismissed after 2015 listeria outbreakĬopyright 2023 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.Blue Bell Creameries has announced an investment by a prominent Fort Worth businessman will 'ensure' the return of its ice cream products to the market.īlue Bell released a statement Tuesday announcing Sid Bass has become a partner. Cases reported from the following states: One person in Arizona, five in Kansas, one in Oklahoma and three in Texas. A second recall was made on Mawhen subsequent tests confirmed listeria contamination in a product made at another Blue Bell facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.Īccording to the CDC, a total of 10 people were hospitalized with listeriosis related to this outbreak. That same month, the FDA, CDC and Blue Bell all issued public recall notifications on March 13, 2015. In March 2015, the FDA conducted a test on one of the Blue Bell ice cream products, which linked the listeria strain to five patients who were hospitalized in Kansas for listeria by ingesting contaminated food.

According to court records, Kruse was informed about the presumptive positive liter testing and ordered the Blue Bell quality control to stop the further testing and instructed another Blue Bell quality control employee to destroy hard copy and electronic records of the presumptive positive product test results. In 2011, a Blue Bell quality control employee created a program to periodically test Blue Bell finished products with high coliform results, which is used as an indicator of the sanitary conditions of the manufacturing facilities. According to officials, Kruse knew of these problems, but he and Blue Bell failed to correct roof leaks, condensate problems and other sanitary conditions that continued at Brenham Facility and Broken Arrow Facility until 2015. In 2010, a Blue Bell quality control employee formed a meeting with other Blue Bell employees and plant management to discuss “condensate and (roof) leak concerns in all facilities” noted in government agency inspections. “It was a long road to get here, but I am so glad I stood up for what was right.” What happened? “I am grateful to all my friends and family, particularly the Blue Bell family, who have stood behind me during this difficult time,” Kruse said. The fraud allegations provided up to 20 years in jail for each count.Ī misdemeanor under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act does not need proof of intent or knowledge of the tainted product and is known as a “strict liability crime.”Ī misdemeanor Food Drug and Cosmetic Act violation is the same charge that the company pleaded guilty to in 2020. He has also agreed to pay a $100,000 fine.

BLUE BELL ICE CREAM KANSAS CODE

Code § 331(a)) for being the CEO of the company when tainted product was manufactured. Kruse has agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.

BLUE BELL ICE CREAM KANSAS TRIAL

“This is the right result it became clear during the trial last year that the government overcharged the case.”

Kruse has been saying from the very beginning, no one at Blue Bell ever intended to defraud its customers, and we are happy that the government has reached the same conclusion,” said Chris Flood, Kruse’s attorney. BRENHAM, Texas – The United States government agreed on Wednesday to dismiss all fraud charges against former Blue Bell CEO Paul Kruse, with parties agreeing to a misdemeanor fine instead.

Blue bell ice cream kansas