Blue Bell can begin ice cream production again at Alabama plant following Listeria outbreak

Timeline: The Blue Bell listeria outbreak

Click through to see the timeline of the Blue Bell recall. The year 2015 started out strong for the beloved Texas ice cream chain. This year the store announced plans to move into Nevada – its 23rd state – due to popular demand and opened its fifth Houston-area distribution center . But the Brenham, Texas-based ice cream maker has now recalled all products after the brand was tied to a listeria outbreak that killed three in Kansas. less Timeline: The Blue Bell listeria outbreak

The year 2015 started out strong for the beloved Texas ice cream chain. This year the store announced plans to move into Nevada – its 23rd state – due to popular ... more Photo: Jamie Squire, Getty Images Photo: Jamie Squire, Getty Images Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close Blue Bell can begin ice cream production again at Alabama plant following Listeria outbreak 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

Blue Bell can begin production and sales of cream immediately at its Sylacauga, Ala. plant.

Jim McVay, director of health promotion and chronic disease for the Alabama Department of Public Health, confirmed to the Chronicle on Wednesday that the embattled creamery has no restrictions on sales or production following extensive and satisfactory clean-up efforts and product testing at the Alabama plant.

"There has been no contamination found," McVay said Wednesday. "Blue Bell may produce anything they like from the Sylacauga plant."

Joe Robertson, with Blue Bell in Brenham, said ice cream produced in Sylacauga is being added to the company's inventory.

"At this time, we do not have a date when our products will return to market," he said Wednesday by email.

Three people died following a Listeria outbreak linked to Blue Bell Ice Cream earlier this year. As many as 10 became ill.

Laboratories linked the strain to three separate Blue Bell production facilities, including the one in Alabama.

Before the recall, Blue Bell had been among the top-selling ice cream in the countries, with estimated revenue of $700 million in 2014.

In the months since the initial March recall was announced, Blue Bell had shut down all of its facilities and had laid off or furloughed more than three-quarters of its workforce.

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In July, the creamery was lent $135 million by Fort Worth billionaire Sid Bass in exchange for one-third of the company.

John Boyd contributed to this report.