Oasis Brands Inc. of Miami, FL, is recalling select lots of various Lacteos Santa Martha products with best-by dates of 07/01/14 through 12/31/14 because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. The recalled products were distributed in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina from April 1 through Oct. 14, 2014, to distributors and retail stores. The products can be identified by the batch ID code (best-used-by date) sticker on the label of the plastic bag of 07/01/14 through 12/31/14.

  FDA is investigating illnesses associated with the product. The recall is the result of routine sampling by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Food Inspectors and subsequent FDA environmental samples that revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The company ceased production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.