A national dairy recall related to a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been extended to products sold at Costco, Walmart and other major retailers.
The recalled products include snack wraps, taco kits, salad kits, and other foods sold in grocery stores across the United States that use dairy ingredients manufactured by Rizzo-Lopez Foods.
Health officials said there is evidence linking the company’s dairy products to an ongoing deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has been under investigation since 2014.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says at least 26 people have become ill after consuming Rizzo-Lopez Foods cheese, crema and yogurt, resulting in two deaths and 23 hospitalizations in 11 states.
States with cases include Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in children, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms usually begin within two weeks of eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, but can begin as early as the same day or as late as 100 weeks later.
Mild symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the CDC and FDA.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the expanded recall comes after samples of Rizzo Brothers’ Aged Cotija were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes during sampling conducted by the Hawaii Department of Health Food and Drug Administration in January 2024. This was done after he tested positive.
This discovery prompted Rizzo Lopez Foods to voluntarily recall one batch of Rizzo Broth Aged Cotija Mexican Grated Cheese (8 oz.) on January 11, 2024.
In December 2023, the CDC and FDA resumed investigation of Listeria monocytogenes due to reports of new illness, and in response, Rizzo-Lopez Foods announced a voluntary recall of cheese, yogurt, and sour cream products on February 5, 2024. and was later expanded.
The recalled dairy products and products made with the recalled dairy products include Bright Farms, Campesino, Casa Cárdenas, Dole, Don Francisco, Don Pancho, Dos Ranchitos, El Huache, Food City, Fresh & Ready Foods, and Fresh Express. , sold under the brand name HEB. , La Ordena, Marketside, Maverick Foods, President’s Choice, Ready Pac Bistro, Rio Grande, Rizo Bros, Rojos, San Carlos, Santa Maria, The Perfect Bite Co., Tio Francisco, Trader Joe’s, 365 Whole Foods Market.
Retailers selling these products include Costco, Walmart, Save Mart, Lucky, Stater Brothers Market, Fresh & Ready Foods, and Sprouts Farmers Market.
Retailers selling these products as unbranded taco kits and meals include Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Costco, Eagle, Lucky, Jack & Olive, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Save Mart, Shaw’s, Sprig & These include Sprout, Sprouts, Star Market, and Stater. Brothers Markets, Tom Thumb, Vons.
Consumers are warned not to eat, sell or serve recalled products.
Throw it away. Anyone with symptoms that suggest listeriosis should contact their health care provider to report symptoms and seek treatment.
