DENVER (KDVR) — Two people are dead and at least two dozen more have fallen ill as part of a Listeria outbreak linked to queso, cheese and other dairy products, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On Tuesday, the CDC issued a food safety alert regarding the multistate outbreak, saying that Rizo-López Foods has recalled all cheeses and dairy products made in its facility.
As the company explains, the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can lead to serious infections. The recalled products “may be a potential source of illness” in the Listeria outbreak, officials said.
Those recalled products were sold nationally under the following brands:
Campesino
Casa Cardenas
Don Francisco
Dos Ranchitos
El Huache
Food City
La Ordena
Rio Grande
Rizo Bros
San Carlos
Santa Maria
Tio Francisco
365 Whole Foods Market
The CDC has a full list of 61 products that have been recalled.
So far, 26 people in 11 states have been infected, according to the CDC. That includes cases in California, Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
Two deaths have been reported in California and Texas.
Symptoms of Listeria
Listeria can cause serious and even fatal infections in young children or people with weakened immune systems. Among pregnant women, however, listeria can cause a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Symptoms usually start within two weeks after eating the contaminated food but may also start as early as the same day.
Pregnant people may notice the following symptoms:
Fever
Muscle aches
Tiredness
People who are not pregnant may notice the following symptoms:
Fever
Muscle aches
Tiredness
Headaches
Stiff neck
Confusion
Loss of balance
Seizures
What should you do?
The CDC urges people not to eat any recalled cheese or dairy products, and instead throw them away.
If you did have the possibly contaminated cheese, the CDC asks you to clean the refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the products.
If you have any questions about the recalled products, you can contact Rizo-López Foods at 1-833-296-2233.
