It’s connected to dairy products.
An outbreak of listeria illness has claimed the lives of two individuals and left 23 others hospitalized, as reported in a recent alert issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This protracted outbreak, spanning several years, has now been conclusively linked to dairy products distributed by Rizo-López Foods, prompting a nationwide recall effective February 5, according to the CDC’s communication.
Rizo-López Foods, known for its diverse range of dairy offerings including queso fresco, cotija cheese, yogurts, and other dairy items, markets its products under various brand names such as Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Rio Grande, and others. Investigations by health authorities, coupled with recent Listeria findings in cheese and production facilities, pinpoint Rizo-López Foods’ queso fresco and cotija products as the source of the outbreak, the CDC affirms.
This current outbreak, which the FDA notes is part of a longer-term trend spanning a decade, saw renewed attention following the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of Rizo Bros Aged Cotija during testing by the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch in January 2024. Genome sequencing subsequently linked the strain of listeria identified in the Rizo Bros products to the bacterium responsible for prior illnesses associated with the outbreak.
Cases of illness have been reported across 11 states, with California leading with eight cases, followed by Arizona and Colorado with four cases each, and so forth. Listeria, identified as the third leading cause of food-borne illness in the United States, poses heightened risks for certain demographic groups, including pregnant women who are ten times more susceptible to infection compared to others. Moreover, seniors aged 65 and older and individuals with weakened immune systems are also at elevated risk.
Symptoms of listeria infection typically manifest as fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, often appearing within two weeks of consuming contaminated food. However, onset can vary, ranging from the same day of ingestion to as late as 10 weeks afterward. To mitigate further risk, the CDC advises consumers to thoroughly clean refrigerators, containers, and any surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled products, emphasizing the potential for listeria to survive and spread within refrigerated environments.
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