Rizo-López Foods, a Modesto, Calif.-based dairy product manufacturer, has voluntarily recalled 61 of its products after a CDC investigation uncovered a link to an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.
As of February 12, there have been 26 illnesses, including 24 hospitalizations and two deaths, associated with the outbreak. The outbreak has spanned nearly a decade—from June 2014 to December 2023—and run through 11 states. Of the known cases, eight cases were reported in California, with other confirmed cases in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington.
The recalled products include cheeses, crema, and yogurt 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. Additionally, the products were sold at retail deli counters at El Super, Cardenas Market, Northgate Gonzalez, Superior Groceries, El Rancho, Vallarta, Food City, La Michoacana, and Numero Uno Markets. A full list of recalled products can be found on FDA’s website.
The CDC began investigating the listeria outbreak in 2017 and reopened the case in 2021, but both times even though evidence pointed to queso fresco and similar cheeses as the probable source of the outbreak, there wasn’t enough information to pinpoint any specific brand.
Since the revelation, FDA has initiated an on-site inspection at Rizo Lopez Foods, which is still on-going. The company has temporarily ceased the production and distribution of these products. while their investigation continues.
Leave a Reply