Nationwide Recall of Cheese Products Due to Listeria Contamination Continues to Expand
A nationwide recall of cheese products due to the risk of listeria contamination is rapidly growing, with various salad kits and taco kits being removed from shelves in popular stores across the country. The recall was initiated by Rizo-López Foods, a company based in Modesto, California, after they discovered the potential contamination of their dairy products, including Queso Fresco and Cotija Cheese, with Listeria monocytogenes. This recall affects numerous brand names such as 365 Whole Foods Market, Don Francisco, and Tio Francisco, which were sold nationwide.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have issued notices expanding the list of recalled products to over five dozen items. These include black bean dip and other products sold at popular stores like Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Amazon Kitchen. Furthermore, the FDA has recently identified ten additional food companies that have voluntarily recalled their products due to potential listeria contamination. These include salad kits and taco kits sold at Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Costco, Eagle, Safeway, Walmart, and Home Chef.
The impact of this recall has extended to various food items that contain cheese supplied by Rizo-López Foods or have the potential for cross-contamination from the recalled cheese products. Major supermarket chains like Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Lucky, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw’s, Star Market, Tom Thumb, and Vons have recalled products such as Ready Meals Chicken Street Tacos and Chicken Asada Street Taco Meals. Walmart has also been affected, with limited quantities of Marketside Bacon Ranch Crunch Chopped Salad Kits being recalled in California and Nevada.
Other companies involved in the recall include Braga Fresh, BrightFarms Inc., Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc., Fresh Express, Fresh & Ready Foods, Ready Pac Foods Inc., Stater Bros. Markets, Taylor Fresh Foods, and The Save Mart Companies. These companies have recalled various salad kits and sandwiches that contain the recalled cheese products, which were distributed in multiple states across the United States.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause listeriosis, an infection that can be contracted by consuming contaminated food. While most people infected with listeria do not become seriously ill, certain groups are more susceptible to severe infections, including pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65 years old, and individuals with weakened immune systems. The CDC reports that approximately 1,600 people get sick and 260 die from listeriosis each year.
Symptoms of listeriosis may appear within two weeks after consuming contaminated food and can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your healthcare provider.
The current recall is part of a larger investigation into listeria outbreaks connected to Rizo-López Foods dating back to 2014. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Infection (CDC) began investigating the company again after a sample of Rizo Bros Aged Cotija cheese tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes in January 2024. The outbreak has resulted in 26 illnesses, including 2 deaths and 23 hospitalizations in 11 states.
If you have purchased any of the recalled cheese products, it is advised to check your refrigerator and freezer for these items and dispose of them immediately. It is also important to clean and sanitize any surfaces that may have come into contact with the contaminated products to prevent cross-contamination.
In conclusion, the nationwide recall of cheese products due to listeria contamination continues to expand, affecting various salad kits, taco kits, and other food items sold in popular stores across the country. Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers for recalled products and follow the necessary steps to ensure their safety.
