Listeria Outbreak Linked to Soft Cheese

UPDATE - 2/25/14 - Roos Foods has expanded their recall.

Soft cheese made by a Delaware company has been linked to a Listeria outbreak, with one death and seven ill.  Product tested by VA Department of Agriculture was found to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes.  The company is recalling a variety of their cheeses.

Listeria monocytogenes has been related to other outbreaks in soft cheese.  This organism is more likely to cause illness in those from high risk groups, such as elderly, infants and young children, and pregnant women.  Once infected, the illness can be very serious, leading to septicemia (blood infection) and meningitis, and even death.

Roos Foods is a small family owned processor located in rural Kenton DE.  From the company website, the facility appears to be small.  They focus on producing South American type of cheeses. 



EXPANDED - Roos Foods Voluntarily Recalls Variety of Cheeses (listed below) Due to Possible Health Risk



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 25, 2014 - Update: Roos Foods has voluntarily expanded their February 23, 2014 recall to include all lots of Amigo and Mexicana brands of Requesón (part-skim ricotta in 15 oz. and 16 oz. plastic containers and all lots of Amigo, Mexicana and Santa Rosa De Lima brands of Queso de Huerta (fresh curd cheese).

Roos Foods, Kenton De Recalls ALL LOTS of the Following Cheeses:

Mexicana: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses; Amigo: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses; Santa Rosa De Lima: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses and Anita Queso Fresco Because Of Possible Health Risk.

Roos Foods of Kenton, DE is recalling the above cheeses because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, 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 infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Products were distributed in Maryland, Virginia and Washing ton D.C through retail stores.

The products are packaged in flexible plastic bags and rigid plastic clam shell packages in 12 oz. and 16 oz. sizes under the brand names: Mexicana, Amigo, Santa Rosa De Lima, and Anita.

As a follow-up to reported illness, samples of various intact/unopened cheeses produced or repacked by Roos Foods, Inc., collected by the Commonwealth of Virginia Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services and Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene found to contain Listeria monocytogenes which appear to be linked to the illnesses.

The company has ceased the production and distribution of the products as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

Customers should destroy all lots of the above listed products of the brand names Mexicana, Amigo, Santa Rosa De Lima and Anita. For any refund, please return recalled products to store.

If you have any further questions please contact Virginia Mejia phone number (302) 653-8458. Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 3 pm EST.

FDA News Release
Roos Foods Voluntarily Recalls Variety of Cheeses (listed below) Due to Possible Health Risk
Roos Foods, Kenton De Recalls ALL LOTS of the Following Cheeses Mexicana: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses; Amigo: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses; Santa Rosa De Lima: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses and Anita Queso Fresco Because Of Possible Health Risk

Contact
Media:
Virginia Mejia
302-653-8458

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 23, 2014 – Roos Foods of Kenton, DE is recalling the above cheeses because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, 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 infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Products were distributed in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C through retail stores.

The products are packaged in flexible plastic bags and rigid plastic clam shell packages in 12 oz. and 16 oz. sizes under the brand names: Mexicana, Amigo, Santa Rosa De Lima, and Anita.

Samples of Cuajada en Terron (Fresh Cheese Curd), collected by the Commonwealth of Virginia Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services, have been found to contain Listeria monocytogenes.

The company has ceased the production and distribution of the products as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

Customers should destroy all lots of the above listed products of the brand names Mexicana, Amigo, Santa Rosa De Lima and Anita. For any refund, please return products to store.

If you have any further questions please contact Virginia Mejia phone number 302 653 8458. Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 3 pm.

Examiner.com
Listeria outbreak: Tainted cheese to blame, 1 death and 7 sickened by outbreak
February 22, 2014
http://www.examiner.com/article/listeria-outbreak-tainted-cheese-to-blame-1-death-and-7-sickened-by-outbreak

A Listeria outbreak has struck certain regions of the U.S. this week, and with 1 confirmed death and at least 7 others sickened by the bacteria, it is thought that tainted cheese is to blame. U.S. health officials are still trying to determine specifics about the outbreak, but it is believed that the cases stem from cheese originally made in Delaware and then later sold in the state of Maryland. UPI News reveals this Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is investigating the sickness scare that has afflicted a minimum of three newborn babies as well.

Roos Foods products are believed to be the culprit food source behind the Listeria outbreak hitting California and Maryland recently. Tainted cheese sold in a still undisclosed grocery chain was likely infected with the dangerous bacteria before being offered to unsuspecting customers in Maryland. Just a single individual outside of the state was affected — a victim from California, the only instance where 1 death resulted — while the 7 others (a few of them babies) were struck ill.

According to an official report from the CDC, the origins of this contained but critical outbreak is likely from Caujada en Terron, a very soft cheese that is prepped by Roos Foods, located in Kenton, Delaware. In addition to the cheese being taken off shelves, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has also since warned the public not to purchase other Roos Foods products at this time until the health situation has been resolved.

Listeria is not commonly fatal, but as seen in the 1 tragic death in California this week, more serious cases can be life-threatening. The infection Listeria is ultimately spread by a food-borne bacterium scientifically called Listeria monocytogenes. It often leads to sever diarrhea and fever, and poses a particular threat to the elderly, young children and babies, and pregnant women.

At this time, the CDC hopes that with the tainted cheese now gone from Maryland and Delaware shelves — the California victim’s death is still being examined by health authorities — the Listeria outbreak is contained and will diminish shortly. Two farmers from Colorado just back in 2011 were blamed for a fatal outbreak of the bacteria infection that killed a total of 33 people.


 Roos Foods Website
Good News For The Latin Palate!

Roos Food´s is a family owned business founded in Delaware, U.S.A, dedicated to the production of a wide variety of dairy products of latin origin, these are prepared using grade "A" milk, and high quality natural and fresh ingredients, with the strictest pasteurization processes and fulfilling the sanitary aspects demanded by the F.D.A.

Roos Food´s dairy products are elaborated the old fashioned way, handmade, as it was made in traditional country homes and farms of El Salvador, other Central American countries and Mexico.

The purpose of Roos Food´s is to put it´s dairy products to the reach of latin families who live in the United States, bringing the taste of their country to their homes , a product made with the best standards of quality and maintaining the authentic flavors to satisfy their needs.

These products are distributed in latin stores and supermakets of the East coast of the United States, expanding quickly to California and Texas, thanks to the quality and authenticity of it´s products, it´s focus on costumer service and competitive prices.