One dead in Texas from listeria outbreak, says CDC; 26 infections reported in U.S.
At least two deaths — one in Texas and California — have been attributed to an outbreak strain of listeria linked to queso fresco and cotija cheese, according to a food safety alert issued by the Center for Disease Control.
Twenty-six people have so far been infected with listeria — two of the 26 have been found in Texas.
Listeria is a food-borne bacterial illness typically caused by eating improperly processed deli meats or unpasteurized milk products.
The outbreak infections stemmed from dairy products distributed by Rizo-López Foods which has issued a recall of queso fresco, cojita, oaxaca and other dairy products from brands Tio Francisco, Rizo Bros and 365 Whole Foods Market among others.
The entire list of recalled dairy products can be found on the CDC website or the Rizo-López recall statement which is linked above.
If you have any of these products the CDC advises you to throw them away or return them, clean any surfaces in your refrigerator they might’ve touched, and see a doctor if you experience any symptoms.
Listeria is especially dangerous for those aged 65 years and older, pregnant or with an already compromised immune system. According to the Mayo Clinic, healthy people not in the above categories rarely get ill from listeria.
Those most likely to experience symptoms should be extra careful because a listeria infection could result in death, pregnancy complications and hospitalizations.
The symptoms include fever, muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, stiff neck, and confusion.
The symptoms usually appear two weeks after ingesting the contaminated food though they could appear as soon as the same day or take as long as ten weeks to appear according to the CDC.
The CDC stated the number of people sick is most likely higher than their official totals because some people can recover without medical care and are therefore not tested and those with recent illnesses may not yet have been reported.
This story was originally published February 6, 2024 at 3:46 PM.
