DENVER (KDVR) — Two people are dead and at least two dozen more have fallen ill as part of a Listeria outbreak linked to queso, cheese and other dairy products, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On Tuesday, the CDC issued a food safety alert regarding the multistate outbreak, saying that Rizo-López Foods has recalled all cheeses and dairy products made in its facility.
As the company explains, the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can lead to serious infections. The recalled products "may be a potential source of illness" in the Listeria outbreak, officials said.
Those recalled products were sold nationally under the following brands:
- Campesino
- Casa Cardenas
- Don Francisco
- Dos Ranchitos
- El Huache
- Food City
- La Ordena
- Rio Grande
- Rizo Bros
- San Carlos
- Santa Maria
- Tio Francisco
- 365 Whole Foods Market
The CDC has a full list of 61 products that have been recalled.
So far, 26 people in 11 states have been infected, according to the CDC. That includes cases in California, Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
Two deaths have been reported in California and Texas.
Symptoms of Listeria
Listeria, which can cause serious and even fatal infections in young children or people with weakened immune systems. Among pregnant women, however, listeria can cause a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Symptoms usually start within two weeks after eating the contaminated food but may also start as early as the same day.
Pregnant people may notice the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Tiredness
People who are not pregnant may notice the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Tiredness
- Headaches
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
What should you do?
The CDC urges people to not eat any recalled cheese or dairy products, and instead throw them away.
If you did have the possibly contaminated cheese, the CDC asks you to clean the refrigerator, containers and surfaces that may have touched the products.
If you have any questions about the recalled products, you can contact Rizo-López Foods at 1-833-296-2233.