Atlanta, GA – Rizo-López Foods Inc. has issued a recall of numerous dairy products, including popular Super Bowl snacks queso fresco and Cotija cheese. The recall comes after an investigation identified them as the source of a multistate listeria outbreak. The outbreak has resulted in 23 hospitalizations and two deaths, according to health officials.
More than 60 products have been recalled and were distributed nationwide under various brand names, including Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Rio Grande, Food City, El Huache, La Ordena, San Carlos, Campesino, Santa Maria, Dos Ranchitos, Casa Cardenas, and 365 Whole Foods Market. Consumers are advised not to eat any of these products.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers for these products and dispose of them immediately. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and spread to other foods and surfaces, so it’s also important to clean the refrigerator and any containers or surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled products.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause serious, sometimes fatal, infections, especially in young children, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems. Pregnant individuals infected with listeria can also experience miscarriages and stillbirths. Healthy individuals may experience only mild, short-term symptoms.
Symptoms of listeria infection include fever, muscle aches, tiredness, severe headache, nausea, stomachache, and diarrhea. If anyone experiences these symptoms after consuming the recalled dairy products, they are advised to contact their healthcare provider immediately. They can also contact Rizo-López Foods Inc. directly with questions at 1-833-296-2233.
The recent outbreak has affected 26 individuals from 11 states, with two deaths reported in California and Texas. The CDC’s investigation has revealed that queso fresco and Cotija cheese made by Rizo-López Foods are the source of the illnesses. Interviews with affected individuals and facility screenings led to this discovery.
This is not the first time Rizo-López Foods Inc. has faced a recall related to listeria. The company has a history of similar incidents, according to the CDC.