Meagan Fredette
Ariana Grande famously licked a tray of doughnuts in 2015, and became public enemy #1. Now, another food-licker has gone viral, and is a wanted fugitive running from the law and grossed-out social media. Can you identify this dessert vandal? If so, the seasoned detectives at Blue Bell Ice Cream want to hear from you.
In a 9-second video, a woman is seen licking a pint of Blue Bell’s Tin Roof ice cream. She opens the lid of the carton, proceeds to give the exposed, vulnerable ice cream a single (yet substantial) lick, and places it back into the freezer at a supermarket. An accomplice records the video, and can be heard encouraging the woman to “lick it” and “put it back.” It is unknown if the supermarket was able to remove the contaminated food before it was sold to an unsuspecting customer with a sweet tooth. The perp laughs villainously throughout the caper.
The video was first posted on Twitter by user @BlindDensetsu, who wrote “What kinda psychopathic behavior is this?!” @BlindDensetsu told TIME Magazine that he obtained the video from actress Alexis Fields-Jackson’s Instagram Stories. At press time, the Twitter video has over 1.1 million views. Comments on the video thread implore folks to identify the woman, and for Blue Bell to seal their ice cream lids. Some noting the potentially health-threatening consequences of food contamination, particularly for those who are immunocompromised.
https://twitter.com/BlindDensetsu/status/1144954255318671366
@ILoveBlueBell seal your ice cream from now on please
— Miguel (@fortunefaded19) June 29, 2019
This shit is why we practically need a chainsaw to get through some food product packaging.
— Robyn Len 🐦 (@BlueNightBird) June 29, 2019
The risk in this case is NOT minor. If the person who buys that is immunocompromised, it’s quite possible that they will be harmed.
— No KiddieKoncentrationKamps sez thepoliticalcat (@thepoliticalcat) June 29, 2019
Blue Bell Ice Cream was especially revolted. The company wrote in a Twitter reply to the video that they were aware of the “food tampering incident,” and were “working with appropriate authorities.” The company also posted a statement on their site, clarifying that they are “currently working with law enforcement, retail partners and social media platforms.” In a response to outraged customer inquiries on Twitter, Blue Bell indicated via tweet that they may change their packaging, including “peel-off seals or wrap around seals” to deter more ice cream copycat crimes.
Hello! We want to thank our consumers for alerting us to the recent food tampering incident. We take this issue very seriously and are currently working with the appropriate authorities. For more information, please click here https://t.co/bs2Uaq6BiR
— Blue Bell Ice Cream (@ILoveBlueBell) July 1, 2019
We are always looking for ways to improve, including looking at methods within our manufacturing process to add additional protection to the carton. (i.e. peel-off seals or wrap around seals). Nothing yet has been determined.
— Blue Bell Ice Cream (@ILoveBlueBell) July 2, 2019
Blue Bell’s Tin Roof flavor, for the record, features dark chocolate-dipped roasted peanuts and chocolate fudge in a rich vanilla ice cream. Food-licking crimes aside, this ice sounds very delicious. And while this woman remains on the lam, follow this advice: grab your food from the back rows.
https://twitter.com/Toryjamar/status/1145000780677689344
