Blue Bell to Begin Trial Ice Cream Production (Not For Sale)

[MicaelS]

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Blue-Bell-to-Begin-Trial-Production-Run-This-Month-312629291.html

Blue Bell Creameries plans to begin a trial run of ice cream production "in the next several weeks" at its Alabama plant.

The ice cream produced in the trial run will not be sold to consumers.

The popular Texas-based company issued a nationwide recall of all its products April 20 due to concerns of listeria contamination at its plants in Brenham, Texas, Sylacauga and Broken Arrow, Okla.

No further information has been released from Blue Bell on when full production might resume.

More at link.

I sure hope they have their problems fixed. Blue Bell is the only one making a decent straight Coffee Ice Cream (not Mocha or some other term, or mixed with something else.) And I am not paying $5 for a pint of Häagen-Dazs Coffee Ice Cream.

[House of Roberts]

1. I like Breyers.

They have good varieties, like Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookie ice cream, Snickers, etc.

Make the CEO and the Board of Directors eat the trial run product.

[TexasTowelie]

3. They will be testing each batch of ice cream thoroughly in the future before any humans ever

taste their product. Their new procedures call for holding their ice cream until the lab tests are completed before releasing it onto the market. They are investing significant amounts of money to get the business operating again and even then they decided voluntarily to reduce their market share to maintain quality control.

While I don't agree with the politics of the owner (who is a Republican contributor), it seems rather crass to wish someone harm as you are suggesting. Yes, they did make mistakes along the way and should have implemented quality control measures earlier. However, I believe it is callous to suggest that they wanted people to die from eating their products. They also make a variety of products that other creameries do not produce. I miss their Southern Blackberry Cobbler myself.

My parents lived in Brenham from 1998 to 2013 until the family sold the house after my father died. The house is being rented to a couple that were affected by the downturn and the wife lost her job at the creamery so they will most likely have to move at the end of their lease. The economic harm done by the closing down the creamery has affected more than the creamery. Brenham has a significant amount of tourism within the town and it has affected businesses ranging from the local independent ice cream shop, to antique shops, to the ranching industry, the real estate market, and tax receipts for both the city and county governments. Considering that there are not many other industries in the area I hope that they can resume business as soon as possible. They won't be ready this year until the height of ice cream season is over so the next twelve months will be telling to see if they can be successful in the future.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. I love the stuff...but

gotta push for no HFCS in my food.
When they get going again commercially, I ' gonna write and ask how to find any sugar based ice cream they make.

[linuxman]

5. Breyers? Seriously?

No offense to your tastes, but that stuff is pure, unadulterated slop. They had to actually stop printing "icecream" on the box in place of " frozen dairy desert" as it couldn't legally fit the definition. I feel like I just ate soap foam and sugar when I have breyers. Bluebell has a more subsantial, traditional icecream taste, texture, and feel.

Hardcore Bluebell fan here.

Everyone cranks out a bad batch even now and then. Bluebell has a great rep for product quality and integrity. This will just up their game in the future.

[Gothmog]

2. Yeah