Supplier: No listeria in product before going to Blue Bell

HOUSTON (AP) — A supplier of cookie dough that Blue Bell Creameries is blaming for possible listeria contamination of some ice cream says the product tested negative for the pathogen before being sent to the Texas-based company.

In a statement Thursday, Iowa-based Aspen Hills said the "positive listeria results were obtained by Blue Bell only after our product had been in their control for almost two months."

Brenham, Texas-based Blue Bell announced Wednesday it's recalling some ice cream flavors after finding chocolate chip cookie dough from Aspen Hills was potentially contaminated with listeria.

Blue Bell says no illnesses have been reported from the ice cream distributed in 10 states.

The company shut down its three plants for four months last year after contamination linked to listeria cases in four states, including three deaths.