What to Know About the Listeria Outbreak in Cheese and Other Dairy Products

Rizo-López Foods, a California-based cheese and dairy company, is recalling more than 60 products sold nationwide following a listeria outbreak that has killed two people and caused more than 20 hospitalizations.  The CDC previously investigated a listeria outbreak of the same strain in 2017 and 2021, but was unable to trace it back to a specific brand. Last month, they reopened the case after new illnesses were reported in December and the same strain was found in a cheese sample from Rizo-López Foods. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] What foods have been recalled?  The recalled products include cheese, yogurt, and sour cream sold under the brand names Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Rio Grande, Food City, El Huache, La Ordena, San Carlos, Campesino, Santa Maria, Dos Ranchitos, Casa Cardenas, and 365 Whole Foods Market, according to the FDA.  The FDA has advised consumers to throw away any recalled products and clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers they touched. What are the first signs of listeria?  Symptoms of listeria, a bacteria that can contaminate many kinds of food and cause severe illness, usually appear within two weeks of exposure, and are most common in people who are pregnant, newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems—though other people can be infected with listeria, they rarely become seriously ill, according to the CDC.  Symptoms amo...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized News Desk Source Type: news