A decade-old listeria outbreak linked to California-based Rizo-Lopez Foods Inc. has prompted Wisconsin-based Sargento cheese to voluntarily recall products supplied by the manufacturer, destined for the trash as federal public health officials investigate. Sargento emphasized that its products in grocery stores were not affected by the outbreak but decided to recall any items packaged on the same factory lines as Rizo-Lopez products as a precautionary measure. The company terminated its relationship with Rizo-Lopez, known for Mexican dairy products like sour cream, desserts, and cheeses.
Sargento’s voluntary recall impacts 11 varieties of shredded cheese in 15 states, ranging from Arizona to Wisconsin, with best-by dates between March and June 2024. The decision follows a recall by Rizo-Lopez of numerous dairy products over concerns of potential listeria contamination, a serious bacterial infection that has caused two deaths and at least 23 hospitalizations across the country. Despite efforts that began in 2017 to identify the outbreak’s source, the specific brand or manufacturer had eluded investigators until recent reports of new illnesses reignited the investigation.
Health officials warn consumers not to consume the affected products and advise checking the FDA website for updates on potentially contaminated items in their refrigerators or freezers to discard them promptly. The complexity of listeria detection, which can lead to fatal outcomes, requires thorough sanitation of surfaces or containers that may have come in contact with the recalled products to prevent further spread of the bacteria.
