Rio Grande brand queso fresco is being recalled in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia for potential Listeria contamination. Consumers who have purchased this cheese should not eat it as Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious illness or death. Among pregnant women, Listeria can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and premature delivery of an infected newborn.
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This recall has been issued in connection with an ongoing queso fresco Listeria outbreak that has sickened 11 people in Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Virginia. One person has died.
Rio Grande queso fresco is made by El Abuelito of Paterson, NJ which has recalled other cheese in association with this outbreak. The recall includes queso fresco sold brand names Rio Lindo, Rio Grande, and El Abuelito; and the Quesillo and Requeson cheeses sold under the brand names El Abuelito, Viejito, El Paisano, El Sabrosito, La Cima, Quesos Finos, San Carlos, and Ideal. The Quesillo and Requeson cheeses were sold in bulk packages ranging in size from 5 pounds to 14 pounds and may have been repackaged and sold with labels without a brand name or with a brand name not listed here.
The Rio Grande queso fresco recall includes all products with “sell by” dates through 032821. (Product name, size, UPC)
- Chirilagua Queso de Hacienda, 12 oz. Plastic Container, 738529005571
- Queso Fresco Campestre con Hoja, 14 oz. Plastic Container, 812324031161
- Queso Fresco Campestre Artesanal , 14 oz. Plastic Container, 738529002518
- Queso Fresco con Hoja, 14 oz. Plastic Container, 738529004581
- Queso Fresco Yorito, 12 oz. Plastic Container, 738529005564
- Queso Fresco Olancho, 14 oz. Plastic Container, 812324031222
- Cuajada Fresca Guatemalteca, 12 oz. Plastic Container, 738529001276
- Cuajada Fresca Hondureña, 12 oz. Plastic Container, 738529001269
- Cuajada Fresca Salvadoreña, 12 oz. Plastic Container, 738529001252
Symptoms of a Listeria infection, called listeriosis, include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, muscle aches, loss of balance, and convulsions. Sometimes those symptoms are preceded by bouts of nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea. Listeriosis symptoms usually develop within two weeks of exposure but sometimes they can take as long as two months to develop.
In addition to pregnant women, others at high risk of contracting Listeria infections and suffering severe illness are people over 65 and people with compromised immune systems. If you ate these cheeses and developed symptoms of a Listeria infection see a doctor right away and mention your exposure.
Eleven people in four states are part of this outbreak, two of the illnesses are pregnancy-related, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The number of cases reported from each state so far is: Connecticut (1), Maryland (4), New York (4), and Virginia (2). Ten people have been hospitalized, that fatality was reported in Maryland.
During interviews with health officials, seven of the people sickened in this outbreak said they ate Hispanic-style fresh, soft cheeses in the month before they became ill. Six of them said they ate queso fresco, two specifically mentioned El Abuelito brand and one mentioned Rio Grande brand.
Experienced Listeria Lawyers
The lawyers at Pritzker Hageman have extensive experience and an unequaled record of success representing people who contracted listeriosis from contaminated food. Our firm has represented clients in nearly every major Listeria outbreak in the U.S. and obtained numerous million and multi-million-dollar recoveries for our clients. If you or a family member are part of this outbreak and would like a free consultation with our experienced team of Listeria lawyers, please contact us today by calling 888-377-8900 (toll-free), texting 612-261-0856 or by completing the form below.
