Blue Bell Creameries and the Alabama Department of Public Health have entered into a voluntary agreement that details actions taken by the company to return to the market again.

The agreement outlines series of steps Blue Bell will take to give public confidence that its products are safe. It will most likely pave the way for an eventual restart of Blue Bell’s production plans, including in Broken Arrow.

According to the agreement, the Sylacauga, Alabama plant will hold on to an independent microbiology expert to prevent the future introduction of listeria.

The company has started rigorous facility cleaning and sanitizing, revised its testing protocols, revised production policies and procedures in order to prevent future contamination and upgraded employee training initiatives.

The agreement also calls for a trial production period before Ice Cream Company is ready to resume production and start distributing its products to consumers.

Blue Bell CEO and President Paul Kruse said, “We hope that the agreement between Blue Bell and the Alabama Department of Public Health will reassure our customers that we are taking the necessary steps to bring Blue Bell Ice Cream back to the market”.

He added that the company committed to make changes in order to meet the high standards and expectations of their customers and regulatory agencies. The company will also keep on working cooperatively and transparently with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).