Rizo Lopez Foods Inc. has issued a recall of their Rio Bros California Creamery Aged Cojita Mexican Grating Cheese due to potential contamination with listeria monocytogenes. The product was distributed across the United States and in Hawaiian retailers, including R. Field Wine Company, Foodland and Foodland Farms supermarkets, and Cost.U.Less in Hilo.
The Hawaii Department of Health disclosed in a news release that the batch number for the affected cheese product is 4DW-23318. This 8-ounce round package of cheese comes with an orange, black, and white label. The sell-by date on the affected product is 5/12/24, and its UPC code is 72724200043. These details can be found on the back edge of the package. Consumers are advised to seal the product in a plastic bag and return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.
According to a Jan. 11 news release from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this recall followed a routine sampling by the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch on Jan. 3, which detected bacteria in the cheese. During this investigation into how the contamination occurred, Rizo Lopez Foods has halted production of this cheese.
The FDA's news release also confirmed that there were no illnesses related to this product as of Jan. 11.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that consuming food contaminated with listeriosis monocytogenes can cause fever and flu-like symptoms in pregnant individuals while non-pregnant individuals may experience headaches, stiff necks, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. Listeria can also lead to intestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea which could last up to three days. Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to complications like miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth or life-threatening infection of a newborn.
Diagnosis of listeria is possible following a bacterial culture. Treatment for individuals who develop an illness that spreads beyond the intestines often includes antibiotics. Symptoms may start within two weeks of consuming the contaminated food, and those with intestinal symptoms are advised to drink extra fluids.
For further inquiries, consumers can contact Rizo Lopez Foods at 1-800-626-5587. The line operates from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Standard Time.