Texas grocery chain H-E-B pulls all Blue Bell products amid ice cream contamination concerns

Texas grocery chain H-E-B is pulling all Blue Bell Ice Cream from store shelves as a precaution after a recall of some of the ice cream maker's products that were connected to three deaths in Kansas.

H-E-B, with more than 300 stores in Texas and northern Mexico, said the decision Saturday was a "precautionary measure due to food safety concerns." The chain said it's working with Brenham, Texas-based Blue Bell to refill the stocks as soon as possible.

Blue Bell spokesman Gene Grabowski said the company respected and understood the action.

"Like them, we care for the well-being of our consumers," he said.

Blue Bell on Friday suspended operations at its Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, plant that officials previously had connected to a foodborne illness linked to the three deaths.