The Wall Street Journal reports that Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, a year after it had to halt production and recall all its products because of concerns related to possible listeria contamination, continues to have problems in this area.
According to the story, "In a warning letter to the company’s chief executive, dated Aug. 9, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it found a dangerous form of listeria in the company’s Columbus, Ohio, manufacturing plant that supplies the base for Jeni’s ice creams and frozen yogurts. Regulators also found 'significant' violations of good manufacturing practices spelled out in federal regulations during inspections earlier this year."
Here's how the Journal frames the broader story:
"The ice-cream sector has struggled with food safety in recent years. Blue Bell Creameries LP recalled all of its frozen desserts from supermarket shelves last year after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked its ice cream to three deaths and multiple other illnesses. The company since has resumed sales.
"The U.S. Justice Department launched an investigation of Blue Bell’s listeria outbreak. The status of the probe is unclear, and Blue Bell previously has declined to comment. It didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
"According to the FDA’s August warning letter to Jeni’s, the listeria strain found earlier this year matches the one discovered in the plant and the company’s ice cream last year, indicating the potentially deadly pathogen has been present in the facility since 2015."
According to the story, "In a warning letter to the company’s chief executive, dated Aug. 9, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it found a dangerous form of listeria in the company’s Columbus, Ohio, manufacturing plant that supplies the base for Jeni’s ice creams and frozen yogurts. Regulators also found 'significant' violations of good manufacturing practices spelled out in federal regulations during inspections earlier this year."
Here's how the Journal frames the broader story:
"The ice-cream sector has struggled with food safety in recent years. Blue Bell Creameries LP recalled all of its frozen desserts from supermarket shelves last year after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked its ice cream to three deaths and multiple other illnesses. The company since has resumed sales.
"The U.S. Justice Department launched an investigation of Blue Bell’s listeria outbreak. The status of the probe is unclear, and Blue Bell previously has declined to comment. It didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
"According to the FDA’s August warning letter to Jeni’s, the listeria strain found earlier this year matches the one discovered in the plant and the company’s ice cream last year, indicating the potentially deadly pathogen has been present in the facility since 2015."
- KC's View:
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The Jeni's folks seem to be taking the position that some listeria is inevitable, that its food is 100 percent safe despite the FDA findings, and that customers have nothing to worry about.
Am I wrong if I am unconvinced? There are plenty of ice cream manufacturers out there - I'm thinking companies like Graeter's and Salt & Straw, for example - that don't seem to have these problems.
I'm beginning to wonder how Jeni's will do once the government starts applying the new standards established by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Because if they don't measure up, senior executives could find themselves held personally responsible.
