NJ Cheese Manufacturer Pleads Guilty to Distributing Contaminated Food Linked to Deadly Listeria Outbreak
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
NEWARK, N.J. — A Paterson, New Jersey cheese manufacturer has officially pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing adulterated queso fresco that was ultimately linked to a multi-state Listeria outbreak, resulting in a dozen hospitalizations and one tragic death.
Abuelito Cheese Inc., also known publicly as “El Abuelito Cheese,” entered the guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais in Newark federal court. The company admitted to introducing contaminated food products into interstate commerce, violating the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).
Ignored Warnings: The Timeline Leading to the Outbreak
According to federal court documents and statements made during the proceedings, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had flags raised about the Paterson facility long before the fatal outbreak occurred.
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February 2020: The FDA inspected the Abuelito facility and alerted management to the presence of non-pathogenic strains of Listeria (Listeria innocua and Listeria grayi). While these specific strains don’t usually cause severe illness, their presence is a major red flag that environmental sanitation is failing.
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June 2020: The FDA issued a formal Warning Letter to Abuelito Cheese Inc. The agency explicitly warned that the conditions inside the plant were highly conducive to breeding the deadly pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes.
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February 2021: The fears outlined in the warning letter became a reality. A severe outbreak of listeriosis swept across four states, directly linked to Abuelito’s fresh, soft cheese products. The outbreak caused 13 hospitalizations and one death.
The Affected Brands and Criminal Penalties
Abuelito Cheese distributed its products widely throughout New Jersey and neighboring eastern states. The criminal offense carries a maximum potential penalty of 5 years of probation and a fine of $500,000, or twice the gross financial gain or loss resulting from the offense—whichever is greater.
Federal Judge Fais has scheduled the official sentencing for October 15, 2026.
Are You a Affected? Resource Information for Victims
The Department of Justice has opened an avenue for individuals who believe they, or a loved one, were sickened by this specific listeriosis outbreak. The contaminated cheese was sold under several prominent brand names across the East Coast:
| Brand Name | Distribution Area |
| El Abuelito Cheese | Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York |
| Rio Grande Food Products | Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland |
| Rio Lindo | North Carolina, Maryland |
Victim Witness Notification: If you were impacted by products from these brands during the 2021 outbreak, you can contact the Department of Justice’s Victim Witness Unit via their toll-free hotline at (888) 549-3945 or via email at [email protected].
The successful investigation was spearheaded by the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations (New York Field Office) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano alongside Trial Attorney Lauren M. Elfner of the DOJ’s Fraud Section.
