Alabama Approves Blue Bell’s Bid to Resume Production

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Less than a month after the maligned Blue Bell ice cream manufacturer resumed testing at its Alabama facility, the state’s Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that it would allow the Texas-based company to officially begin the production and sale of its products.

Blue Bell has had to deal with a wealth of scandal this year:

The ice cream producer was forced to halt production in March after some of its product was discovered to be contaminated with listeria, a dangerous bacteria. Those contaminations were subsequently linked to three deaths and several other cases. Blue Bell has only been able to resume manufacturing activities after reaching an agreement with the Alabama State Health Department (and entering into similar ones with the appropriate bureaus in Texas and Oklahoma).

The company’s distribution plans still seems to be up in the air, but Alabama’s approval could indicate other states aren’t far behind.

[AP]

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