Blue Bell to start trial runs in July

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 to start trial runs in July 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

Blue Bell Creameries will begin trial runs of ice cream production at its Alabama plant the week of July 20, health officials confirmed Wednesday.

RELATED: Sample ties listeria to third Blue Bell plant

It remains unclear when the company can begin shipping products for sale, but the trial runs signify that Blue Bell is nearing completion of upgrades at the Alabama facility, which has been closed along with plants in Texas and Oklahoma since April.

Blue Bell recalled all of its products and halted production after the ice cream was linked to 10 cases of listeriosis, a bacterial illness, in four states. Three Kansas patients who were already hospitalized with other conditions died after eating the ice cream.

READ MORE: Blue Bell can't pinpoint source of contamination at Brenham plant

Blue Bell notified Alabama officials of the upcoming trial run in a phone call Wednesday, said Ron Dawsey, deputy director of environmental services for the Alabama Department of Public Health. The company did not tell the department when sales might resume if the trial run is successful and indicates that potential sources of listeria have been eliminated.

Company officials could not immediately be reached for comment.