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Jeni's Closing Stores, Pulling Product After Listeria Report

Columbus-based Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is temporarily shutting down its retail stores and issuing a recall on all products following discovery of the listeria bacteria in a sample taken by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. 

In a statement issued today, Jeni's CEO John Lowe said the decision was made to proactively pull all products off the shelves and close facilities until experts can determine the source of the contamination.  There have been no reported cases of illness associated with Jeni's brand ice cream, but a similar contamination at Texas-based Blue Bell Ice Cream earlier this week has been linked to at least 8 illnesses.  Listeria is a hardy bacteria most commonly found in unpasteurized milk or cheeses, an it can be difficult to eradicate.  It can cause fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal symptoms and even death.  Customers who purchased Jeni's products are encouraged to dispose of them or return them for an exchange or refund.  Jeni's operates 10 retail outlets in Central Ohio, with stores in Cleveland,  Chicago,  Nashville and Los Angeles.

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.
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