Whole Foods Market is recalling ricotta salata sold in 21 states and Washington, D.C.

That includes six stores in Maryland, according to a news release Wednesday from the US Food and Drug Administration.

The ricotta salad, Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand, came from its supplier Forever Cheese Inc. of Long Island City, NY, the release states.

The cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.

It can be fatal in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems, the release states.

Symptoms in healthy people:

• high fever
• severe headache
• stiffness
• nausea
• abdominal pain and diarrhea

It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women, the release states.

"The recalled Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand cheese was cut into wedges, packaged in clear plastic wrap and sold with a Whole Foods Market scale label using PLU 29342," the release states.

"All 'sell by' dates through Oct. 2 are affected."

Fourteen illnesses have been reported which may be associated with the Frescolina recall.