Photo by Ben Townsend

Texas’ most beloved brand of iced cream returned to store shelves Nov. 2.

Off the shelves for nearly half a year due to a nationwide recall, vending machines around campus may soon have their supply restocked with Blue Bell products. After traces of Listeria monocytogenes were discovered earlier this year in specific products, Blue Bell began its limited distribution of products to select cities in Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama.

Blue Bell has managed the distribution of its products under a five phase market re-entry plan by their main creamery locations in Brenham, Texas, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Sylacauga, Alabama, after work with the FDA to improve the factories’ sanitary conditions. Phase one began August 31 and included select markets in the southwest region of the US. Phase Two begins November 2 and includes areas of North Central Texas and southern Oklahoma, while phase three through five include the rest of Texas and other surrounding states.

Blue Bell has announced that they are focused on getting their products to the consumer through grocery stores and convenience stores as a top priority. Director of Student Nutrition, Rita Denton, manages food products in MISD.The products sold to school districts unfortunately will not be distributed this school year.

“We voluntarily pulled the product from our shelves as soon as beginning reports were breaking in the Spring, following suit with many grocery stores and other school districts,” Denton said. “Eventually the product was formally recalled and the vendor came and picked it all up from our school locations.

Although Blue Bell returns to grocery stores and other school districts, MISD will sell the products in the 2016-2017 school year.

“Next year is the plan, as soon as we can possibly get it back,” Denton said.