Rizo-López Foods, Inc. (RLF) has just announced an voluntary recall on select dairy products. This recall is due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The affected products include select cheeses like queso, cotija and ricotta, as well as yogurt and crema from the following brands: 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.
The recalled food items were sold at stores nationwide, including, but not limited to, Whole Foods Market, El Super, Cardenas Market, Northgate Gonzalez, Superior Groceries, El Rancho, Vallarta, Food City, La Michoacana and Numero Uno Markets. Best-by dates, sizes and UPCs for each item are available on the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) Expanded Recall List, but RLF recommends throwing away the products, regardless of sell-by date.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) believes this recall may be linked to an ongoing Listeria outbreak, affecting people in 11 states so far. The investigation is still active, and RLF is urging all customers to check their refrigerators and freezers, and dispose of any dairy products implicated in this recall.
Common symptoms of listeria infection (AKA listeriosis) include fever, muscle aches and tiredness, while headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and seizures can occur in more severe cases.
While listeriosis is not usually life-threatening, it can be especially dangerous if you are age 65 or older, immunocompromised or currently pregnant. Listeriosis can cause pregnancy complications, including pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause severe illness or death in infected newborns.
Call your health care provider immediately if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms after consuming any affected products. Listeria can easily spread to other food and surfaces and can survive at refrigerated temperatures, so after disposing of any impacted foods, carefully follow the FDA’s safe handling and cleaning procedures.
