Alabama Blue Bell plant to reopen

BRENHAM, Texas (AP) – Blue Bell Creameries said it is bringing back nearly 200 workers furloughed from an Alabama plant to resume production after state health officials gave the shutdown plant a clean bill of health.

The Dallas Morning News reports the Brenham, Texas-based creamery was recalling 180 workers as it stockpiles ice cream in preparation for an eventual return to market.

Production facilities in Oklahoma and Texas remain closed.

Blue Bell underwent an extensive cleaning and decontamination process at its two Texas plants and its plants in Alabama and Oklahoma after listeria contamination was blamed for illnesses in four states, including three deaths in Kansas. That triggered a crippling April recall that resulted in the May furlough of about 1,400 workers and layoffs of about 750 full-time and 700 part-time workers.