A nationwide Listeria outbreak linked to dairy products has spread to additional food items, though the outbreak, for the moment at least, appears to be contained.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the outbreak is linked to two deaths and 23 hospitalizations. In response to the outbreak, the FDA said the contamination affected nearly 60 dairy products, including queso fresco and cotija cheese.
The products are linked to Rizo-Lopez Foods, a wholesaler based in California. The company has recalled all of its dairy products.
However, the recalls have continued. Fresh Creative Foods, a division of Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc., has pulled certain cremas, everything sauces, cilantro cotija dressing, poblano Caesar dressing, cilantro dressing and one taco kit from store shelves.
The company says the dressings and kits were distributed to retail outlets including Costco, H-E-B, Trader Joe’s and Albertson’s in these states:
California
Connecticut
Florida
Idaho
Illinois
Maryland
Montana
New Jersey
Nevada
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Dole recall
Meanwhile, Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. has recalled a limited number of Dole-branded and private-label salad kits. The company says the kits were processed on the same line as one of Rizo-Lopez Foods’ recalled cheese products.
In both of the latest recalls, it appears the products are being pulled out of caution and not because of any adverse events. However, consumers should remain mindful of the symptoms of Listeria infection and react early.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2024-02-15 12:04:21
