**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**NEWS SNIPPET**
**HEADLINE:** Investigative Report: Product Recall and Supply Chain Disruption for Blue Bell Black Raspberry Fudge Ice Cream
**DATELINE:** BRENHAM, Texas – February 26, 2025
**WHAT:** Blue Bell Creameries has issued a voluntary recall and temporary suspension of production for its "Black Raspberry Fudge" ice cream flavor. The action follows an internal quality assurance investigation that identified the presence of undeclared almond extract, a known allergen, in select batches. The company is also reporting a significant, unexplained drop in consumer sales volume for this specific SKU over the past four fiscal quarters.
**WHO:** The recall is directed at all distributors, retailers, and consumers who have purchased the 1.5-quart and half-gallon containers of Blue Bell Black Raspberry Fudge. The affected products carry a specific "Best By" date range of January 1, 2025, through March 15, 2025, as printed on the carton.
**WHEN:** The recall was initiated by Blue Bell executives on February 24, 2025, following a routine third-party laboratory test conducted on February 20, 2025, which confirmed the presence of the undeclared allergen. The production suspension is effective immediately.
**WHERE:** The recalled products were distributed to retail outlets across 23 states in the Southeastern and South-Central United States, including major chains and independent grocers. The contamination is traced to a malfunctioning ingredient feeding system at the company's main production facility in Brenham, Texas.
**WHY:** The recall is mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to the potential for serious allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, in consumers with almond allergies. Additionally, market analysts are investigating the concurrent sales slump, which company officials have attributed to shifting consumer preferences toward sorbet and dairy-free alternatives, though no