UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State is investigating the discovery of a penny and pieces of plastic in ice cream containers sold at the campus Creamery.

According to a news release from the university, a consumer found a penny in a half-gallon of ice cream purchased at the Berkey Creamery in mid-May. Creamery officials and Penn State police investigated and thought it was an isolated incident.

However, consumers reported finding pieces of plastic in half-gallon ice cream containers three more times after that. 

No one has been injured, according to the university.

Officials do not believe the plastic comes from the manufacturing equipment or the production process.

“We have vigorously investigated these reports and followed our traceability protocol to determine that this is not an issue that occurred in the plant. These are not objects used in our production process,” said Tom Palchak, manager of the Berkey Creamery.

“We have involved police and the FDA investigative unit. We are now taking steps to further limit access to the ice cream ingredients and finished ice cream at various points within the Creamery, such as warehouse and ingredient storage, and food production areas,” Palchak said in the news release.

The university lists other steps it is taking, including:

• increasing surveillance at the facility;

• contacting the packaging supplier about using "tamper-evident bands" on the lids.

• having a third-party audit of the facility by the industry;

• buying an X-ray device and metal detectors for food products.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call police at 863-1111.

Anne Danahy can be reached at 231-4648. Follow her on Twitter @AnneDanahy