Blue Bell to begin trial runs in July

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Blue Bell is beginning a trial run of ice cream production at its Sylacauga plant, which has been closed since a national recall of the company’s products.

State Health Officer Don Williamson said Wednesday the company notified the department that it will begin a trial run of production later this month. The ice cream will not be sold to consumers. Williamson says both state health officials and Blue Bell will test the product for listeria.

The company issued a national recall after the company’s ice cream was linked to 10 listeria illnesses in four states, and three deaths in Kansas.

The contaminated products have been found at the company’s Texas and Oklahoma plants, but so far not at its Alabama facility.