MODESTO, CALIFORNIA – Two people have died and 23 others have been hospitalized after consuming queso fresco and cojita cheese products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that these products have been the source of a Listeria outbreak, leading to a wave of recalls.
Since 2014, there have been a total of 26 reported cases of illness in 11 states, with California being the most affected state, accounting for 8 of the cases and one death.
The outbreak has raised concerns that there may be more individuals affected, as it can take several weeks to confirm whether an illness is connected to an outbreak. The CDC believes that the actual number of affected individuals may be higher due to underreporting and the lack of testing for Listeria.
According to the CDC, the illnesses linked to these cheeses date back to 2014 and have resulted in two re-investigations in 2017 and 2021, with the most recent relaunch of the investigation occurring in January of the current year.
The source of the contaminated cheese, Rizo-Lopez Foods, based in Modesto, was identified by the CDC. Routine sampling conducted by the Hawaii State Department of Health in January 2024 found the outbreak strain of Listeria in Rizo-Lopez cojita cheese.
Following these findings, Rizo-Lopez Foods issued a recall of all of its cheese and dairy products on February 6. In addition, several products containing these cheeses, including those from Trader Joe’s, Amazon Kitchen, and Fresh Express, have also been recalled.
Listeria is a particularly hazardous bacterium, especially for pregnant individuals, those over the age of 65, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can manifest as soon as the contaminated food is consumed or as late as 10 weeks later.
Consumers are urged to discard or return any recalled products and to thoroughly clean any surfaces that may have come into contact with the products. Additionally, individuals experiencing symptoms after consuming these products are advised to seek medical attention immediately.