(MENAFN- Gulf Times) A brand of ice cream from the US, which was reported in a section of the local media as contaminated with an infectious agent, is not sold in Qatar's major stores such as LuLu Hypermarket, Carrefour, Al Meera, and Family Food Centre.
In a press statement issued on Monday, Blue Bell Creameries said it has recalled all its products in the US market, including international locations.
"Blue Bell Ice Cream of Brenham, Texas, is voluntarily recalling all of its products currently on the market made at all of its facilities, including ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet, and frozen snacks because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes," the statement explained.
It further explained that the organism "can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems."
"Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women," it added.
LuLu Hypermarket deputy general manager Malik Mohamed told Gulf Times that all products being sold in their store pass through strict quality control procedures to prevent health and safety issues among customers.
"We employ a system that consistently monitors perishable products, particularly items from the frozen section, which includes various dairy products, vegetables, bakery, and the meat and fish section," Mohamed said.
Asked if LuLu Hypermarket has sold products from Blue Bell Creameries, Mohamed said while they sell imported items from the US, the name of the brand is not included in the list of items provided by its suppliers.
This was reiterated by staff of the three other major stores, who requested not to be named for lack of authority to speak on the issue. They said the frozen section of their stores also offers US-made ice cream products but does not include items from Blue Bell Creameries.
The LuLu official asserted that the store is in constant co-ordination with the municipal authorities, which releases permits to sell a certain product.
"In the event a customer raises a complaint against a particular product, the item is immediately taken off the shelves and the issue raised is resolved within 24 hours," Mohamed stressed.
According to Blue Bell Creameries, its decision to recall all its products "was the result of findings from an enhanced sampling program initiated by Blue Bell, which revealed that Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream half gallons produced on March 17, 2015, and March 27, 2015, contained the bacteria.
"This means Blue Bell has now had several positive tests for Listeria in different places and plants and as previously reported five patients were treated in Kansas and three in Texas after testing positive for Listeria monocytogenes."
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