ISSAQUAH (dpa-AFX) - Amid the ongoing Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, more
and more products containing tainted cheese and other ingredients supplied by
Rizo Lopez Foods Inc. are being recalled, according to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration.

In the latest developments, Fresh Creative Foods, a division of Reser's Fine
Foods, Inc., has called back certain cremas, everything sauces, cilantro cotija
dressing, poblano Caesar dressing, cilantro dressing and one taco kit, all made
with a cheese ingredient supplied by Rizo Lopez.

Further, Simply Fresh LLC. is recalling its Rojo's Black Bean 6 Layer Dip 2-20oz
Club Pack sold only at Costco. The product contains Rizo Lopez's recalled cotija
cheese.

The multi-year, multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections, which
caused 26 illnesses with 23 hospitalizations in 11 states, are linked to queso
fresco and cotija cheeses manufactured by Modesto, California -based Rizo Lopez.

Listeria Monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young
children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever,
severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Meanwhile,
listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The outbreak includes cases dating back to 2014 and is currently ongoing. CDC
investigated this outbreak in 2017 and 2021.

The CDC and FDA reopened the investigation in January 2024 after new illnesses
were reported in December 2023. The whole genome sequencing analysis of the
cotija cheese sample showed that it is the same strain of Listeria that is
causing illnesses in this outbreak.

Earlier this week, the FDA issued an outbreak advisory warning consumers not to
eat, sell, or serve recalled brands of cheeses, sour creams (cremas), or yogurts
manufactured by Rizo Lopez.

Rizo Lopez in mid-January had called back Rizo Bros Aged Cotija Mexican Grating
Cheese after the FDA found outbreak connection with its products.

Earlier this week, the company expanded its recall to include further dairy
products, such as cheese, yogurt, and sour cream sold under the brand names 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.

Rizo Lopez also temporarily ceased the production and distribution of these
products.

Meanwhile, the investigation by FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and
local partners, is ongoing.

In the latest recalls, Fresh Creative's recalled dressings are sold in bottles,
while the taco kit is sold in a clear clamshell container with a printed
carboard band. The impacted dressings and kits were distributed to retail
outlets including Costco, H-E-B, Trader Joe's and Albertson's in around 16
states.

Simply Fresh's recalled product comes in 2/20oz container with various Best If
Use By dates and lot numbers. A total of 7,350 cases were distributed to Costco
stores in Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, North
Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, and Utah.

In both new recalls, the companies have not received any consumer complaints or
harmful effects related to the imacted products to date.

Fresh Creative asked consumers are urged to take the affected products back to
the store for a refund or discard them.

Simply Fresh urged its customers to dispose of them immediately.

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