Recall of Dairy Products Affected by Listeria Outbreak

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Dairy Products Recalled Nationwide Following Listeria Outbreak

by: Food and Drug Law at Keller and Heckman of Keller and Heckman LLP - The Daily Intake

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

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On February 5, 2024, Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc. voluntarily recalled its dairy products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall stems from an outbreak including cases dating back to 2014 and CDC inspections in 2017 and 2021. In response to a sample that tested positive for Listeria in January 2024, Rizo-Lopez recalled one batch of cotija cheese. CDC and FDA reopened the investigation when an analysis showed that the same strain in that sample caused illness in an outbreak that was reported in December 2023.
The recall includes cheese, yogurt, and sour cream sold under multiple brand names nationwide. In addition to Rizo-Lopez brands, the products were used in dressings, sauces, kits, and more under other brands, including Bright Farms, Costco, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s, among others. The full list of affected products is available on FDA’s webpage covering the outbreak.
As of February 12, there have been 26 reported illnesses, 23 hospitalizations, and two deaths across 11 states. Listeria is a bacteria species found in moist environments that can survive and grow even under refrigeration. People infected with Listeria may develop symptoms including fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. More severe cases may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Symptoms may develop in anywhere from a few hours to three months after eating contaminated food. Listeria can be particularly harmful to people with weakened immune systems, people over 65, and pregnant women and babies.
Although the investigation is ongoing, FDA’s inspection of the Rizo-Lopez facilities turned up an environmental sample that tested positive for the same strain of Listeria that is causing illness in the outbreak.