Utah included in multistate listeria outbreak leading to Costco, Trader Joe’s product recalls

Aubree B. Jennings
·2 min read

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Food and Drug Administration is investigating a listeria outbreak linked to products sold in several stores nationwide including Costco, Trader Joe’s and Albertsons.

Listeria monocytogene can lead to serious or fatal infection in children, elderly individuals and people with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA. It also has serious risks for pregnant women, potentially leading to stillbirths, miscarriages and premature labor.

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The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have linked the multistate outbreak to queso fresco and cotija cheeses manufactured by the California-based company Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. The potentially contaminated cheeses have made their way into several products, some of which may be in your fridge right now.

There have been two deaths and more than 20 hospitalizations reported across the United States connected to the listeria outbreak. There have not been any reported cases in Utah so far — however, many of the products were sold at Utah stores.

The recalled products include salad kits, tacos, dips, salad dressings and cheese products. For a comprehensive list of all recalled products, click here.

The following products were sold in Utah and have the potential of being contaminated. If you have these products in your refrigerator or freezer, the FDA says to dispose of them immediately.

  • Rojos Black Bean 7-Layer Dip (Costco)

  • Dole salad kits — Dole Chopped Kit Avocado Ranch, Dole Chop Kit Avocado Ranch, Dole Premium Kit Southwest Salad, Dole Cajun Ranch Chopped Kit, Dole Premium Kit Endless Summer, Dole Supreme Kit Southwest Salad, President’s Choice Southwest Salad Kit, and Marketside Chopped Salad Kit Bacon Ranch Crunch.

  • Albertsons Ready Meals and taco kits

  • Amazon Kitchen chicken chile verde burrito

  • Fresh & Ready Torta Sandwiches — Ham torta sandwich, chicken torta sandwich, sprig & sprout ham torta sandwich on telera roll and jack & olive ham torta sandwich on telera roll.

  • Fresh Creative Foods products (sold at Costco, Trader Joe’s and Albertsons) — cremas, everything sauces, cilantro cotija dressing, poblano Caesar dressing and cilantro dressing

Several other Trader Joe’s products were also recalled, however it is unclear if they were sold in Utah. These items include chicken enchiladas verde, elote chopped salad kit and the southwest salad.

Other brands recalling dairy products include Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Tio Francisco, El Huache, Campesino and San Carlos. To find the SKU numbers and Sell/Use By Dates of the recalled products, see the FDA’s recall announcement.

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Milder symptoms of listeriosis include fever, aches, nausea and diarrhea, while more severe symptoms include confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. It is common for symptoms to develop within a few hours or days of eating contaminated food, however it can take as long as three months to see symptoms of severe listeriosis.

If you develop symptoms, the FDA says to contact a medical professional.

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