Several nationwide retailers have issued recalls on dozens of products after an outbreak of listeria was linked to cheeses and other dairy items sold by Rizo López Foods in Modesto, California. The Food and Drug Administration has announced that at least two people have died due to the outbreak. As a result, Rizo López Foods has recalled all cheeses and other dairy products made in its facility, which includes approximately 60 items that were sold nationwide, including at popular stores like Trader Joe’s and Costco.
Costco and Trader Joe’s have each issued their own recalls of items affected by the listeria outbreak, and anyone who has purchased these items is urged not to consume them and instead contact the retailer for a full refund. Additionally, queso fresco and cotija cheese, along with other dairy products included in the recall, were sold under various brand names at retailers and deli counters nationwide. This listeria outbreak has made at least 26 people in 11 states sick, resulting in 23 hospitalizations and the deaths of two individuals.
The CDC is advising consumers who have purchased these items to throw them away, and offers direct contact information for questions and concerns. While listeria is a bacteria found in water, soil, and animal feces, it is especially dangerous for older, immunocompromised, or pregnant individuals, and listeria infection is among the top three leading causes of death from foodborne illnesses in the U.S. Symptoms of a listeria infection can include vomiting, fever, headache, muscle aches, neck stiffness, fatigue, confusion, loss of balance, seizures, and, in pregnant individuals, pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in a newborn. Symptoms typically begin within two weeks of consuming contaminated food, but can manifest at any time within 10 weeks.
