Saturday, February 20, 2021

NJ Cheese Company Recalls All Fresh and Soft Cheese Due to Listeria Outbreak

FDA announced that there is a link between the Listeria outbreak posted last week and El Abuelito Cheese, Inc. of Paterson, NJ.  To date, there have been 7 cases of Listeria infection reported with all of those cases resulting in hospitalization.
"As part of this outbreak investigation, the Connecticut Department of Public Health collected product samples of El Abuelito-brand Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses from a store where a sick person bought cheeses. Sample analysis showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in samples of El Abuelito Queso Fresco sold in 10 oz packages, marked as Lot A027 with an expiration date of 02/26/2021. On 2/19/2021, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis conducted by the Connecticut State Laboratory determined that the Listeria monocytogenes found in the samples is a match to the outbreak strain."
The company has issued a recall for is recalling all Queso Fresco (Fresh, soft cheese) products.

El Abuelito Cheese Inc. was founded in 1997 and is now based in Paterson, NJ.  A pic of location provided by Google.



https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-hispanic-style-fresh-and-soft-cheeses-february-2021?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes – Hispanic-style Fresh and Soft Cheeses (February 2021)
El Abuelito Cheese, Inc. recalls all Queso Fresco products within expiration. Queso Fresco samples collected from Connecticut match outbreak strain

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 7
Hospitalizations: 7
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Date: 1/22/2021
States with Cases: MD (4), CT (1), NY (1), and VA (1)


The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to queso fresco cheeses made by El Abuelito Cheese, Inc.

As part of this outbreak investigation, the Connecticut Department of Public Health collected product samples of El Abuelito-brand Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses from a store where a sick person bought cheeses. Sample analysis showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in samples of El Abuelito Queso Fresco sold in 10 oz packages, marked as Lot A027 with an expiration date of 02/26/2021. On 2/19/2021, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis conducted by the Connecticut State Laboratory determined that the Listeria monocytogenes found in the samples is a match to the outbreak strain.

On 2/19/2021, El Abuelito Cheese, Inc. of Paterson, NJ recalled all Queso Fresco products with “sell by” dates through 03/28/21. Products include El Abuelito, Rio Grande, and Rio Lindo brand queso frescos, distributed to CT, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, and VA. A full list of recalled products is included below. At this time, El Abuelito Cheese, Inc. has ceased production and distribution of all products.

Recommendation
Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve any recalled queso fresco cheeses.

FDA recommends that anyone who purchased or received recalled products use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/el-abuelito-recalls-queso-fresco-products-because-possible-health-risk
El Abuelito Recalls Queso Fresco Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: February 19, 2021
FDA Publish Date: February 19, 2021
Product Type: Food & Beverages  Cheese/Cheese Product
Reason for Announcement: Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name: El Abuelito Cheese
Brand Name: El Abuelito, Rio Grande, Rio Lindo
Product Description: Queso Fresco
Company Announcement
El Abuelito Cheese ofPaterson, NJ is recalling all Queso Fresco (Fresh, soft cheese) products, because it has 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 monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

All Queso Fresco products with sell by dates through 032821, have been recalled. The products are sold as El Abuelito Cheese brand, distributed in CT, NJ, PA, NY; Rio Grande Food Products brand, distributed in VA, NC, MD; and Rio Lindo distributed in NC and MD. The products were distributed through Feb 16, 2021 and were available in supermarkets, wholesale, and retails stores.

The following products being recalled were produced at Plant #34-12179 in the following forms
Brand  Product Name  Size  Container Type  UPC Code
El Abuelito Cheese  Queso Fresco Regular  12 oz.  Plastic Container  673130100003
Queso Fresco Promoción  10 oz.  Plastic Container  673130100078
Queso Fresco de Hoja  12 oz.  Plastic Container  673130100065
Queso Fresco  5 Lb.  Vacuum Packed 673130100058
Queso Fresco Guatemala  12 oz.  Plastic Container  673130100027
Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.  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
Rio Lindo Queso Fresco Mexicano 12 oz. Plastic Container 718122088587
Queso Fresco Hondureño 12 oz.  Plastic Container 718122088591 
Queso Fresco Salvadoreño  12 oz. Plastic Container 718122088607

As of February 11, 2021, the CDC reports seven people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes from four states.

El Abuelito has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and El Abuelito continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

As the FDA stated, about this outbreak investigation, the Connecticut Department of Public Health collected product samples of El Abuelito-brand Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses from a store where a sick person bought cheeses. Sample analysis showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in samples of El Abuelito Queso Fresco sold in 10 oz packages, marked as Lot A027 with an expiration date of 02/26/2021. Samples are currently undergoing Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis to determine if the Listeria monocytogenes found in these samples is a match to the outbreak strain. At this time, there is not enough evidence to determine if this outbreak is linked to El Abuelito Queso Fresco.

Consumers who have purchased the stated Queso Fresco products are urged not to consume and to return product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact directly El Abuelito Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST at (973) 345-3503.

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