CDC Warns of Listeria Outbreak After Large Recall of Cotija Cheese, Queso Fresco, and Other Dairy Products
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Listeria is a common bacteria, but one strain that can contaminate food, Listeria monocytogenes, is potentially life-threatening. The outbreak has so far led to 23 hospitalizations and two deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which issued an alert about the outbreak, notes that illnesses have been traced back to cheese, crema, and yogurt produced by Rizo-López Foods. The products were sold nationwide under the following brands:
- Campesino
- Casa Cardenas
- Don Francisco
- Dos Ranchitos
- El Huache
- Food City
- La Ordena
- Rio Grande
- Rizo Bros
- San Carlos
- Santa Maria
- Tio Francisco
- 365 Whole Foods Market
A full list of recalled products can be found on the CDC’s website.
The CDC has investigated outbreaks linked to this specific strain of listeria twice before, in 2017 and 2021, but could not identify its source. Recent interviews with sick people and testing at the production facility confirmed the source of the current outbreak.
On February 5, Rizo-López Foods recalled all products made in its facility.
All recalled cheeses and dairy products should be thrown away or returned to where they were purchased. The CDC says listeria can easily survive in the refrigerator and spread to other foods and surfaces, so it’s important to clean anything that may have touched the recalled products.
What Are the Symptoms of Listeria Infection?
Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures. For people who are pregnant, infection with listeria can lead to premature birth, pregnancy loss, or life-threatening infection in the newborn.
If you experience any of these symptoms after eating any of the recalled products, you should call your healthcare provider right away.
Symptoms typically start within two weeks after contaminated food is eaten, but can start as soon as the same day or as late as 10 weeks later.
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