Listeria is a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in people who eat contaminated food. It can grow in cold temperatures and survive pasteurization, making it hard to eliminate.
In recent months, listeria outbreaks have been linked to some food products sold nationwide such as dairy like cheese, yogurt, and sour cream.
The dairy products were contaminated with a different strain of the bacteria that has caused 26 hospitalizations and two deaths in 12 states since 2020. The CDC issued a food safety alert for these products on February 6th, 2024, after finding the same strain in a yogurt sample from Rizo-López Foods.
The recalled products were 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, and distributed to retail stores nationwide.
The CDC advises consumers to throw away any recalled products and clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that touched them. The CDC also warns people at high risk of listeriosis to avoid eating unpasteurized soft cheeses, raw or lightly cooked sprouts, and unheated deli meats, as these foods are more likely to be contaminated with the strain.
People who are pregnant, elderly, or have weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing severe complications from listeria, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, meningitis, or septicemia.
The symptoms of listeria infection usually appear within two weeks of exposure, but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures.
Listeria infection can be diagnosed by a lab test of body tissue or fluid. Most infections can be treated with antibiotics, but specific treatment plans will vary depending on the severity of the illness.
If you have eaten any of the recalled products or have symptoms of listeria infection, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately. You should also report your illness to the local health department and the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in your state.
