Queso Fresco and Cotija Cheese Recalls Linked to a Decade-Long Listeria Contamination
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Fact checked by Nick Blackmer
Key Takeaways
Rizo-López Foods has recalled all 58 dairy products because of potential Listeria contamination.
CDC investigators found that people who got sick between 2014 and 2022 reported eating queso fresco, cotija, or similar cheeses from Don Francisco, one of the recalled brands.
A Listeria infection usually only causes mild symptoms in health people, but it could be serious or even fatal in older adults, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems.
If you’re planning to prepare cheese dips or nachos for your Super Bowl party, double-check your dairy ingredients.
More than two dozen people have gotten sick in a decade-long outbreak of Listeria linked to dairy products produced by Rizo-López Foods of California.
The company has recalled 58 products, including queso fresco, cotija cheese, yogurt, and sour cream. These products were sold under brand names such as Don Francisco, Dos Ranchitos, El Huache, and 365 Whole Foods Market. Some were also sold at retail deli counters nationwide.
The grocery chain Trader Joe’s has also recalled certain products containing cotija cheese produced by Rizo-López Foods.
This outbreak has caused infections as early as 2014. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a few people who got sick from Listeria in 2014 also reported consuming queso fresco or cotija cheese from Don Francisco, one of the recalled brands. The bacteria from people who got sick between 2014 and 2022 are “closely related genetically,” which suggests people got sick from the same food.
In January, the Hawaii Department of Health also identified Listeria in an aged cotija cheese sample made by Rizo-López Foods during routine sampling. The company recalled this single batch of cotija cheese after Listeria was found in it.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later inspected the manufacturer’s facility and found the same strain of Listeria on a container where cheeses are stored before packaging.
The company has now stopped producing and distributing these products while the investigation is ongoing.
Related: Why Is Trader Joe's Recalling So Many Food Products?
How Dangerous Is Listeria?
Most people infected with Listeria experience mild symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting, which usually go away on their own. These symptoms typically develop within two weeks after eating contaminated food, but they can also show up as early as the same day or as late as 30 days after.
Listeria is especially dangerous for people who are pregnant, adults 65 or older, or those who have weakened immune systems. For these high-risk groups, the bacteria are more likely to turn into an invasive infection with symptoms like fever, muscle aches, stiff neck, loss of balance, or seizures.
Related: A Verywell Report: These Foods Are the Biggest Culprits of Foodborne Illness
What Should You Do?
Listeria can spread from contaminated surfaces to food and it can grow even in refrigeration. Pasteurization and cooking with high temperatures could kill Listeria, but products like soft cheeses and yogurt are often eaten raw.
If you do find any of the recalled dairy products in your fridge, throw them away or return them to where you bought them. Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the recalled products.
If you have any symptoms like fever, muscle aches, and tiredness, call your healthcare provider right away.
Which Products Have Been Recalled?
You can find the FDA’s extensive list of recalled products by Rizo-López Foods here.
Trader Joe’s has also recalled the following products:
Trader Joe’s Chicken Enchiladas Verde (SKU 58292)
Trader Joe’s Cilantro Salad Dressing (SKU 36420)
Trader Joe’s Elote Chopped Salad Kit (SKU 74768)
Trader Joe’s Southwest Salad (SKU 56077)
What This Means for You
Check your fridge to see if you have any recalled dairy products made by Rizo-López Foods. Dispose of them immediately and clean your refrigerator and any surfaces or containers that may have come into contact with the products.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
