Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Rizo Bros California Creamery Aged Cojita Mexican Grating Cheese recall: Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination

Recall published 2+ years ago

Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Rizo Bros California Creamery Dairy — recalled dairyRizo Bros California Creamery Dairy — recalled dairy (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Listeria contamination

Listeria is the reason this product was pulled, and it is the one food hazard where "it is still in date and it smells fine" tells you nothing at all.

What the notice says: Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. of Modesto, CA is recalling a total of 344 cases of Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese (8oz), UPC 72724200043 batch number 4DW-23318 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.

Why it matters: Listeria monocytogenes is unusual among foodborne bacteria because it keeps growing at refrigerator temperature. A contaminated pack does not become safer for sitting in the cold, and it will look, smell and taste completely normal.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Listeriosis is mild or silent in most healthy adults, but it is serious for pregnant people, newborns, adults over 65 and anyone whose immune system is suppressed. The CDC describes intestinal illness as diarrhoea and vomiting, and invasive illness as fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. In pregnancy it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or infection in the newborn even when the parent feels only mildly unwell. Symptoms can start within a day or not appear for weeks, so tell any doctor you see that you ate a recalled product and give them the date.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
January 11, 2024
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Rizo Bros California Creamery
Product type
Dairy
Units affected
344 cases
Distribution
Nationwide
Reports of harm
To date, no confirmed illnesses related to this product have been reported.

Products covered by this recall

Aged Cojita Mexican Grating Cheese

What the company announced

Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. of Modesto, CA is recalling a total of 344 cases of Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese (8oz), UPC 72724200043 batch number 4DW-23318 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 infection can cause miscarriage and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese (8oz) was distributed nationwide through distributors.

The product comes in a small 8oz. “puck” shape wrapped in clear plastic marked with red and black lettering on the botom noted as “Cotija, made with Grade A Milk” along with an ingredient description. Nutritional facts are noted in black below the ingredient description. The top shows “Cotija Aged Mexican Grating Cheese” with orange background. Batch number is identified on the outer edge of the clear plastic with “SELL BY 05/12/24 BATCH 4DW-23318” in black lettering.

To date, no confirmed illnesses related to this product have been reported.

The recall was a result of a routine sampling program by the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch on Wednesday, January 3rd which revealed that the finished product contained the bacteria. Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. has ceased the produc􀆟on and distribution of the product as the FDA and Rizo Lopez Foods continue their investigation as to what caused the issue.

Consumers who have purchased Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese (8oz). are urged to quarantine the product and destroy it. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-626-5587, Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm Pacific Standard Time.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 3 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • 4DW-23318

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • 05/12/24

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 8 oz

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Listeria

Rizo Bros California Creamery — Listeria is the reason this product was pulled, and it is the one food hazard where "it is still in date and it smells fine" tells you nothing at all.

  1. Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.
  2. Wash and then sanitise anything the food touched: the fridge shelf and drawer, chopping boards, knives, counters and your hands. Listeria colonises cold surfaces and can survive there after the food is gone.
  3. If anyone in the household is pregnant, over 65 or immunocompromised, call a clinician for advice even if nobody feels ill. That conversation is quick and it is the whole point of a Listeria recall.
  4. Photograph the label, the lot code and the date mark before the pack leaves the house — that picture is what a refund claim runs on.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese (8oz). are urged to quarantine the product and destroy it.

Company contact: Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. — Consumers: Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc., 1-800-626-5587

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Rizo Bros California Creamery dairy recalled?

Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. of Modesto, CA is recalling a total of 344 cases of Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese (8oz), UPC 72724200043 batch number 4DW-23318 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.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: lot code 4DW-23318; best-by date 05/12/24. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese (8oz). are urged to quarantine the product and destroy it.

Where was the recalled product sold?

It was distributed nationwide.

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