According to the L.A. Times, Blue Bell Creameries has issued a worldwide recall of its products over concerns that they may be contaminated with a dangerous strain of Listeria bacteria.

In March, Blue Bell announced a recall of several products after one them was linked to three listeriosis deaths in Witchita, Kansas. As a result of further testing and the discovery of additional listeriosis cases in Texas, the company now believes all Blue Bell products have the possibility of being contaminated.

“At this point, we cannot say with certainty how Listeria was introduced to our facilities and so we have taken this unprecedented step,” Blue Bell CEO Paul Kruse said in a statement on Monday. “We continue to work with our team of experts to eliminate this problem.”

Listeriosis typically afflicts those with weak immune systems (such as young children, immunocompromised persons and the elderly), but once infected, 21 percent of patients die.

According to the company, Blue Bell products are sold 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 and Wyoming as well as several international locations.

[Image via AP Images]