Cheese, Sour Cream and Yogurt are Being Recalled Nationwide—Here's What You Need to Know

Yogurt

Anytime the subject of food recalls comes up, the knee-jerk reaction is to think negatively of the product that is the cause of the recall. The truth is, however, that you always want to know about these recalls as they arise because it means that the companies behind the food you love are taking their role in the process seriously. With the way food is mass-produced in our modern world, contamination is unfortunately unavoidable. So it's up to the company to act swiftly and reassure consumers that their product is either safe to consume or being handled accordingly otherwise.

On February 5, Rizo-López Foods, Inc. (RLF) voluntarily announced a recall of the brand's dairy products due to a potential health risk. The announcement came after it was discovered that some of the brands cheese, yogurt and sour cream products had been potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products happened to be distributed nationwide by RLF, with products being sold through distributors and retail deli counters. Establishments such as El Super, Cardenas Market, Northgate Gonzalez, Superior Grocers, El Rancho, Vallarta, Food City, La Michoacana and Numero Uno Markets each received shipments of the products in question.

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Listeria monocytogenes is an unfortunately common organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in either young children, elderly people or those with a weakened immune system. Even healthy individuals can experience short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. If left untreated, Listeria can lead to miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Specific products detailed in the recall include cheese, yogurt and sour cream sold under the brand names Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Rio Grande, Food City, El Huache, La Ordena, San Carlos, Campesino, Santa Maria, Dos Ranchitos, Casa Cardenas and 365 Whole Foods Market. Images and details pertaining to the products in question can be found here, while consumers are encouraged to check their refrigerators and freezers for any of the above listed products and dispose of them immediately. Anyone with questions or concerns are also welcome to contact RLF at 1-833-296-2233. The line will be open and monitored 24 hours a day.

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