Deadly Listeria Outbreak in New Jersey leads to Cheese Recall

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, California-based Rizo-López Foods issued a comprehensive recall of all cheeses and dairy products manufactured in its facility on Tuesday. This precautionary measure follows an ongoing investigation into a listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has persisted for multiple years. Collaborative efforts between federal and local agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are underway to identify the source of the outbreak.

The outbreak has resulted in 26 reported cases of illness, leading to 23 hospitalizations and two fatalities. In response to the potential health risk, Rizo-López Foods has voluntarily recalled its range of dairy products due to the risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled products encompass various cheeses, yogurts, and sour creams, including ricotta made from whole or part-skim milk. Notably, these products, sold under the 365 Whole Foods Market brand, were distributed nationwide, including in New Jersey. Although the outbreak has primarily been associated with queso fresco and cotija cheese, the investigation is ongoing to ascertain any additional sources of contamination.

Furthermore, on Wednesday, Trader Joe’s announced its participation in the recall by withdrawing products containing cotija cheese linked to the wider recall. These items are available in Trader Joe’s stores across the nation, emphasizing the collaborative effort within the industry to ensure consumer safety amidst the outbreak.

Those items are:

• Trader Joe’s Chicken Enchiladas Verde (SKU 58292)
• Trader Joe’s Cilantro Salad Dressing (SKU 36420)
• Trader Joe’s Elote Chopped Salad Kit (SKU 74768)
• Trader Joe’s Southwest Salad (SKU 56077)