Companies including Trader Joe’s and Costco are recalling products because they were made with cheese and other products linked to a deadly Listeria outbreak.
The cheese and other products causing the problem were produced by Rizo Lopez Foods of Modesto, CA. The company’s cheese has been determined by DNA typing to be the cause of a decade-long Listeria outbreak that has sickened at least 26 people and killed two, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rizo Lopez has recalled more than 60 of its products.
New recalls include foods sold at Trader Joe’s, Costco, H-E-B and Albertson’s after the company Fresh Creative Foods recalled various dressings, sauces and a meal kit.
The Fresh Creative Foods products impacted by the recall include certain cremas, everything sauces, cilantro cotija dressing, poblano Caeser dressing, cilantro dressing and a street taco meal kit.
| Item UPC | Item Name | Size | Impacted Use By Date Range |
| 71117.00489 | DON PANCHO CILANTRO LIME CREMA TWIN PACK | 2-pack of 32 oz bottles | 3/21/2024 – 4/4/2024 |
| 71117.00741 | DON PANCHO EVERYTHING SAUCE FIESTA 3 PACK | 3-pack of 12 oz bottles | 3/11/2024 – 3/26/2024 |
| 41220.94799 | HEB CILANTRO COTIJA DRESSING | 12 oz bottle | 1/13/2024 – 3/30/2024 |
| 41220.94807 | HEB POBLANO CAESAR DRESSING | 12 oz bottle | 1/14/2024 – 3/31/2024 |
| 3.64201 | TRADER JOES CILANTRO DRESSING | 12 oz bottle | 2/19/2024 – 5/14/2024 |
| 71117.12500 | DON PANCHO CHICKEN STREAT TACO EXPRESS MEAL KIT | 22 oz tray | 12/12/2023 – 3/17/2024 |
In addition to these products, Costco reported other items have been impacted by the recall. These include their Southwest Wraps, Chicken Street Taco Kits and Rojo’s 6 Layer Dip.
Trader Joe’s also issued an additional recall for other products that contained cotija cheese supplied by Rizo-Lopez Foods and therefore impacted by the outbreak.
| PRODUCT NAME | PRODUCT SKU |
| Trader Joe’s Chicken Enchiladas Verde | 58292 |
| Trader Joe’s Cilantro Salad Dress | 36420 |
| Trader Joe’s Elote Chopped Salad Kit | 74768 |
| Trader Joe’s Southwest Salad | 56077 |
The company reported the products have sold in their stores nationwide.
About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalledproduct and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.
Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.
Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.
