Walmart, Costco, and Trader Joe’s Recall Cheese After Listeria Outbreak

Recently, Walmart, Costco, and Trader Joe’s recalled certain cheeses after a listeria outbreak. The CBC had originally looked into the listeria outbreak back in 2017 and 2021, after it began making people sick in 2014, which was linked to sickness even in 2014, back in 2017 and 2021, but were unable to identify the specific brand responsible for the outbreak. However, evidence suggested that queso fresco and like cheeses were possible sources. The outbreak has made ill 26 people in 11 states. 23 of these people were hospitalized and two died as a result of consuming the cheese. If you were made sick or a loved one died due to contaminated cheese, you should call the seasoned Chicago-based product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group.

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The Mayo Clinic describes listeria as a hardy bacteria that has its home in water, soil, and animal excrement. The bacteria can survive refrigeration and contaminate a wide range of food items. If you consume listeria and become sick, the diagnosis will be listeriosis. Listeriosis can be especially dangerous for the elderly and within the country, it is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness.

One listeria outbreak, which has lasted a decade, killed two and made sick many more as a result of contaminated cheese associated with a California cheese and dairy company, Rio López Foods, which voluntarily recalled around 60 dairy and cheese products that were made in its facility. Walmart, Costco, and Trader Joe’s, along with other nationwide retailers are recalling the company’s products given the ongoing listeria outbreak. Some of the recalled items include the following, when manufactured during specific windows of time: Don Pancho Cilantro Lime Crema, Rojo’s 6 Layer Dip, Chicken Street Taco Kit, Southwest Chicken Wrap with Sauce, Ready Pac Bistro Queso Crunch Salad Kit, Cilantro salad dressing, Chicken Enchiladas Verde, Elote Chopped Salad Kit, Southwest Salad, Fresh Express Salsa! Ensalada Salad Kit, Marketside Southwest Chopped Salad Kit, Marketside Bacon Ranch Crunch Chopped Salad Kit, and various Dole food kits. The cheeses were sold under a range of brand names at stores and delis around the country—some of these brand names were Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, El Huache, Rio Grande and 365 Whole Foods Market.

You should see a doctor about a potential listeria infection if you suffer vomiting, headache, fever, muscle aches, fatigue, neck stiffness, confusion, seizures or loss of balance. These symptoms typically start within 2 weeks of consuming a contaminated food item, but they can start on the same day as consumption or even up to 10 weeks following the consumption. If you believe you’ve been infected and you’re pregnant, you should see a doctor since the result of the infection may be infection in your newborn or even loss of your pregnancy.

The CBC and FDA reopened the investigation into the listeria outbreak when new sicknesses were reported on December 2023. The next month, during tests by the Food and Drug Branch of the Hawaii State Department, Rizo Bros Aged Cotija tested positive for the listeria strain that sickened consumers in the original outbreak. The FDA looked into the manufacturer’s facility and discovered the outbreak strain of listeria on a container where cheeses were stored prior to packaging.

If you or a loved one were harmed by a listeria outbreak in cheese, you should call the seasoned Chicago-based trial lawyers of Moll Law Group to discuss your legal options. We may be able to represent you in a product liability lawsuit against manufacturers and entities in the supply chain. We represent injured plaintiffs and grieving families across the country. Please complete our online form or call us at 312.462.1700.