Not the Blue Bell!
We’re rounding out a summer of beach weekends, mountain hikes, and admittedly brutal heat with the closing ceremonies of Labor Day, which, for many families, includes a little ice cream. (Go with Fresh Peach Ice Cream, if you’ve got the time!) Unfortunately, if you have a nut allergy in your circle, you’ll want to pay close attention before grabbing your favorite gallon of Blue Bell off freezer shelves.
On August 22, the Brenham, Texas-based creamery announced a voluntary recall of ice cream that was distributed in the wrong packaging, leading to undeclared almond, walnut, and pecan allergens. A limited quantity of Moo-llennium Crunch Ice Cream was packaged in half-gallon Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cartons with a Moo-llennium Crunch lid.
Moo-llennium Crunch is Blue Bell’s vanilla ice cream with a combination of dark chocolate chunks, creamy caramel chunks, roasted pecans, chopped almonds, and walnut pieces. And as the brand’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream does not contain nuts—and is only labeled with allergens milk, soy, and wheat—those with allergies or severe sensitivities to almonds, walnuts, and pecans may run the risk of life-threatening reactions.
The recalled ice cream containers, specifically in half-gallons with the mismatched lids, were distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Outside the South, Blue Bell also distributed in Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, and New Mexico.
The mistake was discovered by a Blue Bell employee who noticed the incorrect packaging on two half-gallons while restocking at a retail location. Thankfully, no illnesses have been reported so far in connection to this recall.
Check your freezer for the ice cream, and look for these key details:
- A Moo-llennium Crunch Ice Cream lid on a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream carton
- Half-gallon size
- Code on top of lid: 061027524
If you have the recalled Blue Bell, you can return to your place of purchase for a full refund. Any questions or concerns can be directed to the company at [email protected].