Major Dairy Recall Just Expanded to Include Items Sold at Costco, Trader Joe's
UPDATE: Thursday, Feb. 8, at 11:20 a.m.
Yesterday, we reported on the dairy product recall announced by Rizo-López Foods, Inc. on Feb. 5. Since then, the recall has been expanded to include additional products sold at Costco, H-E-B, Trader Joe's, and Albertsons.
On Feb. 7, the FDA announced that Fresh Creative Foods has recalled certain cremas, sauces, cilantro cotija dressing, poblano Caesar dressing, cilantro dressing, and a popular taco kit due to listeria concerns tied to a cheese ingredient supplied by Rizo-López Foods. See here for the list of recalled products.
The dressings and taco kits were sold to multiple retailers, including Costco, H-E-B, Trader Joe's, and Albertsons across 16 states. These include California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
Trader Joe's and Costco have also shared their own recall announcements. Affected Trader Joe's products include the Chicken Enchiladas Verde, Cilantro Salad Dressing, Elote Chopped Salad Kit, and Southwest Salad. See here for images of the items.
The recalled Costco products include the Don Pancho Crema Trio Pack, Don Pancho Cilantro Lime Crema, Rojo's Six Layer Dip (more info here), as well as the warehouse's Chicken Street Taco Kit and Southwest Chicken Wrap with Sauce. See here for additional location information.
The original story follows below.
If you recently purchased cheese, yogurt, or sour cream, you're going to want to check your fridge. On Feb. 5, Rizo-López Foods, Inc. announced a recall of 58 dairy products linked to a multi-year listeria outbreak.
The recall applies to cheese, yogurt, and sour cream sold under several brands, including 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. See here for the full list of recalled products.
These items were distributed nationwide to stores and deli counters, including El Super, Cardenas Market, Northgate Gonzalez, Superior Groceries, El Rancho, Vallarta, Food City, La Michoacana, and Numero Uno Markets. The products were also sold at 28 Sam's Club locations and more than 600 Walmart stores, according to CBS News.
Rizo-López Foods has paused the production and distribution of these dairy products while the outbreak investigation continues. In January, the company recalled its Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese after the Hawaii State Department of Health's Food & Drug Branch found listeria in a product sample.
The CDC previously investigated this listeria outbreak in 2017 and 2021. After new illnesses were reported in December 2023, the CDC and FDA reopened the investigation, which includes cases that date back to 2014.
"Epidemiologic evidence in previous investigations identified queso fresco and other similar cheeses as a potential source of the outbreak, but there was not enough information to identify a specific brand," the FDA wrote in a recent update.
This listeria outbreak has been tied to 26 illnesses, 23 hospitalizations, and two deaths. However, as the CDC notes, "The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher."
Symptoms of a listeria infection usually begin within two weeks of eating contaminated food, but they can start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after, according to the FDA. Mild symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea.
This bacteria is most harmful to pregnant people and newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems.
Rizo-López Foods advises consumers who still have these products to throw them away. Individuals with additional questions about this recall can call the company at 1-833-296-2233.
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