Blue Bell recalls all its products

Blue Bell Creameries of Texas has recalled all of its products after two samples of its chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream tested positive for listeria, which is a potentially deadly bacteria.

Several local grocery stores carry Blue Bell ice cream, but representatives reported that the items have been pulled from the shelves due to the recall.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday that 10 illnesses have been linked to products from Blue Bell Creameries in the last five years after the company announced a voluntary recall of all its products. Of those 10 illnesses, three deaths have been reported in Kansas.

Those sickened fell ill between January 2010 and January 2015.

The recall includes ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbert and frozen snacks distributed in 23 states, including Kansas, because products “have the potential to be contaminated,” according to a news release from the company.

The first recall was issued last month after the CDC and state health officials linked ice cream contaminated with listeria to three deaths at a Kansas hospital.

The illness was tracked to a production line in Brenham, Texas, and later to a second line in Broken Arrow, Okla. The recent recall also applies to products produced in a Sylacauga, Ala., plant.

Listeria primarily affects pregnant women and their newborns, older adults and people with immune systems weakened by cancer, cancer treatments or other serious conditions.

Monday's recall extends to retail outlets in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming and international locations.