Costco and Trader Joe’s Items Added to Recalled Items After Listeria Outbreak Leaves 2 Dead
26 people have fallen ill with 23 individuals hospitalized, and two people dead as a result of the outbreak, per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Costco and Trader Joe's this week joined other major retailers in recalling dairy products sold in their stores due to a listeria outbreak that has left two people dead.
Earlier this week, Modesto, Calif.-based Rizo López Foods voluntarily recalled all of its dairy products due to their potential Listeria monocyte gene contamination.
The company advised in a press release that the recalled items include their cheese, yogurt, and sour cream products sold under 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. The company included a complete list of the recalled products and images in their release.
On Thursday, the recalled items expanded to include items from Costco and Trader Joe's.
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Items recalled from Costco include:
Chicken Street Taco Kit, item #11545, purchased between Jan. 25, 2024, and Feb. 6, 2024.
Rojo’s 6 Layer Dip, item #1345308, purchased between Dec. 27, 2023, and Feb. 6, 2024.
Don Pancho Cilantro Lime Crema, item #1341779, a package of two 16-ounce bottles, purchased between Jan. 19, 2024, and Feb. 6, 2024.
Don Pancho Crema Trio Pack, item #1796365, purchased between Jan. 17, 2024, and Feb. 6, 2024.
Southwest Chicken Wrap with Sauce, item #29433, purchased between Oct. 27, 2023, and Feb. 6, 2024.
Items recalled from Trader Joe's include:
Chicken Enchiladas Verde (sku 58292)
Cilantro Salad Dressing (sku 36420)
Elote Chopped Salad Kit (sku 74768)
Southwest Salad (sku 56077)
Both chains advised customers who purchased these products not to consume them and are offering full refunds.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases stemming from the outbreak were reported from June 15, 2014, to Dec. 10, 2023. The agency's website states there was an investigation into the outbreak in 2017 and 2021, linking "queso fresco and other similar cheeses as a potential source of the outbreak, but there was not enough information to identify a specific brand."
After new cases were reported last December, the investigation was reopened, connecting the outbreak strain to a cheese sample from Rizo López Foods.
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As of Thursday, there have been 26 people ill, 23 individuals hospitalized, and two people dead as a result of the outbreak, per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
According to the agency, states with cases include Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.
"The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria," the CDC states on its website.
According to the organization, Listeria is "especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have weakened immune systems."
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Although symptoms "start within 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria" they can also start as "early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after," per the CDC.
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