The girl is seen laughing in the video as the person shooting her eggs her on. The supermarket as well as the icecream brand issued officials statements to the public about how seriously they take the issue of food contamination, and that an enquiry will be made.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on July 10, 2019, and has since been updated.
A viral video showing a young girl opening a 64-ounce Blue Bell ice cream container at a grocery store, which was later identified as Walmart, and licking it before placing it on the shelf, has angered a lot of people.
The ice cream company has taken the matter of food contamination seriously and has worked with law enforcement to find the girl, who was caught on camera. In the video, the girl is being egged on by someone off-screen to lick the ice cream and then being told to put it back. The girl is laughing in the entire clip. The clip that was shared on Twitter and went viral was accompanied by the caption, "What kinda psychopathic behavior is this?!"
What kinda psychopathic behavior is this?! pic.twitter.com/T8AIdGpmuS
— Optimus Primal (@BlindDensetsu) June 29, 2019
The police told TODAY that the incident took place in a Walmart inTexas. The Lufkin Police Department said in a Facebook post that the suspect is a juvenile from San Antonio and the case will be transferred to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. In Texas, by law, a juvenile's name can't be released. The police also said that the girl and her boyfriend, who is from the Lufkin area, were "both forthcoming with what occurred and admitted to the act."
The police had some trouble finding the actual suspect for the bizarre act. They were initially dealing with someone who was pretending to be the suspect. "What made this case difficult is that a 'catfish' with a similar screen name (within one letter of the suspect’s screen name) began taking credit for it,'' the police said. "It was actually the catfish and NOT our suspect who bragged on Instagram about the incident saying: 'Yeah, I really did that. You can call it Flu Bell ice cream now ‘cause I was a lil sick last week. Repost yourself doing this. Let’s see if we can start an epidemic (literally).'"
Earlier, the police said that she could be facing a second-degree felony charge for tampering with a consumer product that is punishable with two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. It is being investigated what her adult boyfriend's role was in the incident. Since the police won't be charging her as an adult "what happens from here is at the discretion of the juvenile justice system."
Meanwhile, the ice cream company told WAFB, "This type of incident will not be tolerated. Food safety is a top priority, and we work hard to provide a safe product and maintain the highest level of confidence from our consumers.”
People on the internet have been appalled at the incident. One person said, "Not funny. Not amused," while another said, "I don’t know if she’s more gross for doing it, or stupid for letting someone take a video and post it."
I don’t know if she’s more gross for doing it, or stupid for letting someone take a video and post it.
— Runs With Scissors (@DKump11) July 1, 2019
However, many criticized the company for not putting a protective seal around the box. "During production, our half gallons are flipped upside down and sent to a hardening room where the ice cream freezes to the lid, creating a natural seal. The lids are frozen tightly to the carton. Any attempt at opening the product should be noticeable," the company wrote in its statement.
This is not funny. It's sick behavior but it does not warrant criminal charges. It does is highlight why a lot of us don't purchase Bluebell. They don't have their product protected. #bluebellfingerpointing #realprotectiveseals #kidsplaypranks
— PureLuv _33 (@LittlesSonya) July 2, 2019
A copycat in Louisiana has been arrested for posting a video of himself on Facebook opening a Blue Bell ice cream container and contaminating it. He licked it and poked it before putting it back on the shelf. The perpetrator, 36-year-old Lenise Martin III, was charged with property tampering and posting criminal activity for notoriety and publicity. However, Martin had actually purchased the ice cream, which was confirmed by the police, and still, he was charged, according to USA TODAY.
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/Uampapt2l8
— Blue Bell Ice Cream (@ILoveBlueBell) July 1, 2019
References:
https://news.yahoo.com/another-person-arrested-allegedly-licking-093834034.html
