A Patterson, N.J., has expanded its recall of its soft cheese products because of the potential for them to be contaminated with listeria.
El Abuelito Cheese in February had issued the first recall for some Queso Fresco products. that has now been expanded to include all Queso Fresco products such as string cheese (Quesillo) and ricotta cheese (Requeson).
According to the announcement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, listeria monocytogenes is “an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.”
All Queso Fresco products with sell by dates through March 28, 2021; all Quesillo (Oaxaca, string cheese) products with sell by dates through April 16, 2021; and all Requeson (Ricotta) products with sell by dates through March 14, 2021, are recalled.
The FDA said that the CDC has reported 10 people infected with the same strain of listeria in four states.
“As part of this outbreak investigation, the Connecticut Department of Public Health collected product samples of El Abuelito-brand Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses from a store where a sick person bought cheeses.
On 2/19/2021, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis conducted by the Connecticut State Laboratory determined that the listeria monocytogenes found in the samples is a match to the outbreak strain.”
The products are sold as El Abuelito Cheese brand in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.
In Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland they are Rio Grande Food Products brand; in North Carolin and Maryland they are Rio Lindo.
The products were distributed through Feb. 16, 2021, to supermarkets, wholesalers and retail stores. Some may have been repackaged.
Stores in Pennsylvania that received the products are located in Ambler, Bensalem, Croydon, Dublin, Hatboro, Hazleton, Norristown, Philadelphia, Pipersville, Quakertown, Scranton, St. Lansdale, Upper Darby, Warminster, Warrington and Wilkes-Barre.
Added to the recall are:
- El Abuelito Cheese, Quesillo Abuelito, 12 ounces, vacuum pack, UPC code 673130200000.
- El Abuelito Cheese, Quesillo Abuelito, 5 pounds, vacuum bag loose bag, UPC code 673130500001.
- El Abuelito Cheese, Quesillo Abuelito, 10 pounds, vacuum bag loose bag, UPC code 673130600008.
- El Abuelito Cheese, El Abuelito Requeson Ricotta, 12 ounces, clam shell container, UPC code 673130300014.
The FDA advises that anyone who purchased the products should not eat them and should return them to the place of purchase for a refund. The FDA also recommends that anyone who purchased the products “use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.”
For more information, call El Abuelito at 973-345-3503 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon EST on Saturdays.
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