Soft-aged cheeses sold by retailers such as Aldi and Market Basket are being recalled because they may be contaminated with listeria, a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, according to a notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

A separate but related recall involving turkey sandwiches with recalled cheese was issued Friday and distributed in six states.

Listeria infection, the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., sickens 1,600 people and kills 260 annually, according to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The young, elderly and people with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk, and listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths, the FDA and CDC noted.

The recall includes seven types of aged cheese produced at a plant in Lena, Illinois, where routine testing showed equipment may have been contaminated, Savencia Cheese USA of New Holland, Pennsylvania, said in the recall, which was expanded earlier this week. Listeria are hardy pathogens that can spread in food processing facilities, where they are difficult to completely remove, health officials say.

Recalled cheese was sold at Aldi stores in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri, Aldi said in its own notice.

The recalled cheeses, manufactured in late September and mid-October, have the best buying dates of December 24, 2024 and January 13, 2025.

A subsequent recall involves sandwiches sold under the CIBUS Fresh, Jack & Olive and Sprig and Sprout labels and sold in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. The 9.65-ounce fall turkey sandwiches with recalled brie cheese spread have an expiration date of November 2, 2024 to November 9, 2024.

The following cheese products are also affected:

• Aldi Emporium Selection Brie, 8 and 12 ounces with the product code 4099100084016
• Supreme Oval, 6 to 7 ounces with case number 10071448504211 and product code 071448504214
• La Bonne Vie Camember, 6 and 8 ounces with case number 10820581678613
• Industrial Brie, 8 and 12 ounces, case number 10077901005226 and product code 077901005229
• Market Basket Brie, sizes 6 and 8 ounces, case number 10049705666309 and product code 049705666302
• Glenview Farms Spreadable Brie, 2 to 3 pounds, case number 507581087132312
• CIBUS Autumn Turkey Sandwich, item number 79616 and code 00810028251915
• Jack & Olive Autumn Turkey Sandwich, item number 79615 and code 00810028251915
• Twig & Sprout Autumn Turkey Sandwich, item number 84408 and code 00810028251915

Consumers are urged not to eat the recalled products and to return to the place where they purchased them for a refund. Those with questions can call 800 322-2743 or email [email protected].