Roos Foods Cheeses Linked to Listeria Outbreak

UPDATE ON REES RECALL (March 3):  

The number of  states in which Roos products have been distributed in retail stores has been expanded.  The total list now includes Washington, D.C. and  these 5 states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.

In addition, the recall has been expanded to include more types of cheeses, more sizes of the cheeses listed in the original recall (below), and sour cream.

This recall now includes include all product sizes and containers of Santa Rosa de Lima Queso Duro Blando (hard cheese), and Mexicana Queso Cojito Molido. This update also serves as additional clarification that ALL sizes and containers of the cheese products previously identified are being recalled: Amigo, Anita, Mexicana, and Santa Rose de Lima brands of: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacer, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresco Round, and Queso Duro Viejo (hard cheeses), Requeson, Queso de Huerta and Quesco Fresco.

Roos Foods is also recalling all product sizes and containers of these brands of sour cream: Santa Rosa de Lima Crema Salvadorena Cultured Sour Cream, Santa Rosa de Lima Mantequilla de Bolsa Tradicion Centroamericana, Crema Pura Mexicana Cultured Sour Cream, La Chapina Crema Guatemalteca Guatemalan Style Cream, and Amigo Brand Crema Centroamericana.

Further questions about this recall can be directed to Virginia Mejia at 302-653-0600, Monday thru Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EST.

Original Article:

Roos Foods of Kenton, Delaware has recalled at least 16 varieties of cheese after 8 illnesses and 1 death due to Listeria monocytogenes that were linked to Roos products. All of the patients are of Hispanic ethnicity.  Seven are Maryland residents.  California has reported 1 illness and 1 death. 

Consumers should not eat any of the following brands of cheese manufactured or repackaged by Roos Foods: Amigo, Anita, Mexicana, and Santa Rosa De Lima.  These products were distributed through retail stores in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

On February 23, 2014, Roos Foods recalled all lots of its Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, and the Queso Dura Viejo hard cheeses marketed under its Mexicana, Amigo, and Santa Rosa De Lima brands.  Roos Foods is also recalling Queso Fresco marketed under the Anita brand.  The products are packaged in flexible plastic bags and rigid plastic clam shell packages in 12 oz. and 16 oz. sizes. 

On February 25, 2014, Roos Foods expanded the 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).  The company has ceased production and distribution of the products as the FDA and the company continue their investigation into the cause of the problem.

Consumers should check their homes for these cheeses and discard any they find. 

It is also very important that consumers thoroughly clean their refrigerators and other food preparation surfaces and cheese-cutting utensils that may have come in contact with the potentially contaminated cheese. Consumers should wash the inside walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards and countertops sanitize them with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water, and dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. 

All patients in Maryland reported consuming soft or semi-soft Hispanic-style cheese.  Shelf Life Advice has repeatedly warned readers about the risks of consuming soft cheeses made with raw (unpasteurized) milk.  For more information about the risks of eating soft cheeses, click here: "FAQs about Soft Cheeses--What's Safe, What Isn't."

Listeria is especially dangerous for pregnant women because the germ can pass to the fetus and cause still-birth or miscarriage.  Symptoms of listeriosis usually develop within several days of eating contaminated food; however, it's possible to become ill from the pathogen up to 2 months after eating food contaminated with listeria.  To read more about listeria, go to "How Dangerous is listeria?" and "What foods are likely to be contaminated by listeria?"

Recommendations for preventing listeriosis are available at the CDC Listeria website: http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/prevention.html. 

Further questions about this recall can be directed to Virginia Mejia at 302-653-8458, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. EST.

The FDA encourages consumers with questions about food safety to call 1-888-SAFEFOOD Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time, or to consult the fda.gov website: www.fda.gov. 

Source(s):

fda.gov "Expanded - Roos Foods Voluntarily Recalls Variety of Cheeses Due to Possible Health Risk"

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm387210.htm

cbsnews.com "Roos Foods Recalls 16 varieties of Cheese After listeria death"

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/roos-foods-recalls-16-varieties-of-cheese-after-listeria-death/

cdc.gov "Multistate Outbreak of Liseriosis - Maryland and California"

http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/cheese-02-14/