Deadly listeria outbreak leads to cheese, dairy recall. Here's what to do in New Jersey.
Check your refrigerator.
On Feb. 6 , California-based Rizo-López Foods recalled all cheeses and other dairy products made in its facility due to an ongoing investigation of a listeria monocytogenes outbreak. The investigation has been going on for multiple years while federal and local officials, including the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, work to pinpoint the cause.
There have been 26 illnesses linked to the outbreak so far, with 23 hospitalizations and two deaths.
The recalled products include cheeses, yogurts and sour creams, including ricotta (whole or part skim milk) sold by Whole Foods nationwide, including New Jersey, under the 365 Whole Foods Market brand, according to the CDC. The outbreak has been linked to queso fresco and cotija cheese so far, but the investigation is ongoing.
What is new in listeria recall?
On Feb. 8 and 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for meat and poultry products containing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated dairy products that have been recalled by Rizo-Lopez Foods.
As of Feb. 12, the FDA announced additional companies have joined those issuing recalls for products made with ingredients linked to the affected items.
Those include:
Costco for Southwest Wrap (Item # 29433)
Costco for Chicken Street Taco Kit (Item #11545)
Costco for Maverick Foods Chipotle Chicken and Rice Bowl (Item #1704074)
Taylor Fresh Foods for Marketside Bacon Ranch Crunch Chopped Salad kits sold at Walmart stores in AL, AR, CO, DC, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NY, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV and WY
Braga Fresh for Marketside Bacon Ranch Crunch Chopped Salad kits sold at Walmart stores in CA and NV
The Perfect Bite Co. for MEXICAN STYLE STREET CORN BITE sold to Costco stores in CA and HI
Save Mart Companies for Chicken Street Taco Kits sold in Save Mart, Lucky and Lucky California store service delis in CA and NV
Stater Bros. Markets for Chicken Street Taco Kits sold at all Stater Bros. Markets in CA
Fresh & Ready Foods for Fresh & Ready Ham Torta Sandwich, Fresh & Ready Chicken Torta Sandwich, Sprig & Sprout Ham Torta Sandwich on Telera Roll, and Jack & Olive Ham Torta Sandwich on Telera Roll sold exclusively in locations in AZ, CA, NV, and UT
Sprouts Farmers Market for Chicken Street Taco Meal Kit sold in Sprouts stores in AL, FL, GA, NC, and TN
Trader Joe's joins cheese recall
On Feb. 7, Trader Joe's announced that it was recalling products it carries that contain cotija cheese that is part of the wider recall. The items are carried in stores nationwide.
Those items are:
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 brands are recalled for listeria?
Some brands included by this recall are:
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
What is listeria?
Listeria is a bacterial infection that the CDC estimates is the third-leading cause of death from foodbourne illness.
It is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older or have weakened immune systems, according to the CDC, because listeria is more likely to spread beyond their gut to other parts of their body, resulting in a severe condition known as invasive listeriosis.
For pregnant people, it can cause loss of pregnancy, premature birth or life-threatening infections in a newborn.
For those older than 65, or who have a weakened immune system, listeria often results in hospitalization and can lead to death.
What are symptoms of listeria monocytogenes illness?
Symptoms usually start within two weeks of eating contaminated food but can begin as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after. They include fever, muscle aches and tiredness for pregnant people, as well as the same symptoms and/or headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or seizures.
Contact your medical provider immediately if you suspect you have symptoms of a Listeria infection.
What should you do because of the listeria outbreak?
The CDC says you should throw away or return any recalled cheese or dairy products to where you bought them. Do not eat them.
You also should clean your refrigerator and surfaces that may have touched the recalled products, because listeria can survive in the fridge and spread to other surfaces.
For more information and a complete table of affected products, visit cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/cheese-02-24/index.html or fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-queso-fresco-and-cotija-cheese-february-2024.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rizo-Lopez Foods recalls cheese, dairy items due to Listeria outbreak
