Blue Bell returns to Texas stores post-listeria outbreak

A parade in downtown welcomed back Blue Bell Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Brenham. A parade in downtown welcomed back Blue Bell Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Brenham. Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 120 Caption Close Blue Bell returns to Texas stores post-listeria outbreak 1 / 120 Back to Gallery

Blue Bell is back.

More than six months after a listeria outbreak linked to Blue Bell Ice Cream killed three in Kansas, and five months after an April recall took the ice cream completely out of stores nationwide, Blue Bell is once again in freezer aisles across Alabama and select parts of Texas (see full recall timeline).

Blue Bell was given the OK to renew production at its Sylacauga, Alabama plant earlier this month by the Alabama Department of Public Health and has since been stockpiling new ice cream to reintroduce to customers in Houston, Austin, Brenham (home of Blue Bell headquarters) and parts of Alabama.

Initial flavor options will be limited, but include Homemade Vanilla Dutch Chocolate, Cookies 'n Cream and Great Divide in half-gallon sizes; and Homemade Vanilla in pint and "Cup" sizes.

The return is being greeted by re-introduction events for both staff and customers at stores like H-E-B, Kroger, Randalls, Walmart, Sam's Club and others across Houston.

Deliverymen were greeted by long lines of customers waiting to get their Blue Bell fix in both Houston and Brenham on Monday morning.

Anthony Lawrence of Stanpac was the first customer at H-E-B in Brenham to purchase Blue Bell on Monday, leaving with four half-gallons by 6 a.m.

Stan Ford didn't even wait to leave the store to dive into his Blue Bell; he paused just beyond the checkout line to dig into a pint of Homemade Vanilla.

Prior to the recall, Blue Bell was the third largest seller of ice cream in the United States.

A total of 10 people in Kansas, Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas were linked to the listeria outbreak, including the three dead, according to the CDC.