Why Blue Bell’s Latest Recall Is Stirring Up the Braum’s Debate

Here's a topic in the Sooner State that every Oklahoman takes a hard stance on.

Blue Bell vs. Braum’s 

It's as heated as the Red River Showdown, and now Blue Bell is stirring the pot again.

In the last few days, Blue Bell issued yet another recall on their ice cream, only this time it isn't because of listeria, though it's almost as bad.

Somehow, their Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough half-gallon containers were filled with Moo-llennium Crunch. While it doesn't seem like much of a headline, nut allergies are something that pose a “serious or life-threatening allergic reaction” risk for some.

Granted, the error was spotted by a vigilant Blue Bell employee while restocking. They spotted only two incorrect cartons, but that's enough to prompt a swift and massive recall.

Affected cartons bear code 061027524 on the lid and were distributed across 16 states, including right here in Oklahoma, at major retailers like Walmart, Kroger, CVS, and Walgreens.

Thankfully, no illnesses have been reported so far.

The Shadow of 2015’s Listeria Outbreak

This latest snafu isn’t Blue Bell’s first rodeo. Many of us remember the devastating 2015 listeria outbreak when tainted products caused multiple deaths, shut down plants, and decimated their supply chain. Blue Bell has mounted an impressive comeback since then, but little mistakes like this seem to be part of the norm now.

Braum’s Track Record vs. Blue Bell’s

For good reference, Braum's has only ever had one recall, and it wasn't even theirs.

Braum's peanut supplier bought a bad batch from another company down the line. The FDA tracked it all down and found the producer at fault for a small salmonella outbreak in some states. Whether or not Braum's ended up with peanuts from that producer wasn't clear, but out of caution, they issued a voluntary recall to replace cartons of their Peanut Butter Fudge ice cream.

There were no recorded sicknesses from Braum's products.

In the grand Oklahoman ice-cream hierarchy, such recalls become part of the rivalry lore. Imagine grabbing a Blue Bell pint, convinced it’s safe, and ending up with anaphylaxis instead of sweet cookie dough... That's the kind of plot twist that keeps the chatter alive in the freezer aisle.

Freezer Aisle Rivalries in Oklahoma

It's also worth noting that, hailing from rural Oklahoma, Blue Bunny is also an acceptable ice cream mainstay in any Oklahoma home. It was cheap, tasty, and came in those huge gallon plastic tubs that were nearly impossible to open.