Publix and Blue Bell ice cream recalled over Listeria concerns

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - Blue Bell and Publix Super Markets are recalling their ice cream flavors containing cookie dough due to Listeria concerns from a third-party supplier.

According to Publix's website -- the company that supplies them with the cookie dough bites said they could be contaminated with the bacteria.

Aspen Hills, the company who supplies cookie dough to both Publix and Blue Bell, in addition to other companies, issued a recall on Sunday notifying its customers of the potential contaminated product. But because Aspen Hills does not sell directly to consumers, it was not immediately clear if any of the affected product had hit shelves. 

The Publix brand ice cream that may be affected are half-gallons with a UPC of 000-41415-03843 and a sell by date of May 27 at the bottom of the container.

According to the Blue Bell website, the recall includes both pints and half-gallons of the following flavors: Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Blue Bell Cookie Two Step sold to retail outlets, and three gallon flavors sold to food service accounts including Blue Bell Blue Monster, Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie, and Blue Bell Krazy Kookie Dough.  These products were produced from February 2, 2016 through September 7, 2016.

The ice cream products containing the potentially-contaminated cookie dough was distributed in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Both Publix and Blue Bell say they haven't had any reported illnesses due to the ice cream. But neither company is taking any chances, choosing to voluntarily recall the product. 

Customers can bring in the recalled ice cream to their local store for a full refund.