Oasis Brands, a company based in Miami, Florida, has been compelled to issue a major recall of its numerous products under the label Lacteos Santa Martha after these products were found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially deadly bacterium that is especially harmful to the elderly, small children, and pregnant women. The deadly bacterium was discovered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Food Inspectors, who isolated Listeria monocytogenes in product samples. This finding was confirmed by Food and Drug Association (FDA) sampling, which confirmed that Listeria monocytogenes was in fact present in these ready to eat products. The FDA is now leading the investigation into the contamination, and Oasis has suspended production of these products pending the outcome of the investigation and remediation of the cause of the contamination.
The product was distributed primarily in Southern states, and so far Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida have been named as states where retailers may have distributed the products. The products being recalled include at least 16 types of cheeses, creams, and spreads, all having been distributed between April 1, 2014 and October 14th, 2014, and bearing BEST BY dates between July 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014. It remains possible that additional products will be recalled or that additional states will be included in the recall.
• Queso Seco Centroamericano (Dry White Cheese) 1Lb UPC 876593 001874
• Queso Seco Olanchano (Dry Cheese) 1Lb UPC 635349 000840
• Queso Seco Hondureno (Dry Cheese) 12oz UPC 876593 001690
• Quesito Casero (Fresh Curd) 12oz UPC 635349 000406
• My Queso (Latin Flavor Cheese) 1Lb UPC 635349 000406
• Queso Cuzcatlan (Salvadorean Flavor Cheese) 1Lb UPC 635349 000406
• Queso para Freir (Cheese for Frying) 12oz UPC 635349 000758
• Queso Fresco (Fresh Cheese) 12oz UPC 635349 000703
• Cuajada en Hoja Queso Casero Hecho a Mano (Fresh Curd) 12oz UPC 635349 000895
• Crema Centroamericana (Soft Blend Dairy Spread) 1Lb UPC 876593 001898
• Mantequilla Hondurena (Honduran Style Cream) 1Lb UPC 635349 000772
• Crema Nica (Grade A Cultured Cream) 1Lb UPC 635349 000468
• HonduCrema Olanchana (Olanchana Style Soft Blend Dairy Spread) 1Lb UPC 635349 000598
• Crema Guatemalteca (Guatemalan Style Cream) 1Lb UPC 635349 000819
• Crema GuateLinda (Guatemalan Style Cream) 1Lb UPC 635349 000390
• Crema Cuzcatlan (Salvadorean Style Cream) 1Lb UPC 635349 000444
Photos of the labels are available at the FDA website.
This recall follows another recall in August of this year when Oasis Brands recalled 12 ounce packages of its Quesito Casero with a BEST BY date of September 27, 2014. That product was distributed in North Carolina and Virginia, according to Oasis Brands.
Listeria victims often suffer from elevated fevers, headaches, body and joint stiffness, nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. And in otherwise healthy women who consume the product while pregnant, Listeria can cause miscarriages and still births. It is for this reason that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issue past warnings to pregnant women to use great caution in eating soft cheeses or any unpasteurized dairy product.
Listeria lawyer Ron Simon, who has represented thousands of food poisoning victims, warned victims “Listeria is often hard to diagnose, so communication with your physician about exposure to Listeria can be vital. Be sure to tell your physician that you consumed the product.”
