Food Safety Alert: Cheese Recall Due Possible Contamination

Mesa County Public Health has been made aware of a recall involving cotija cheese. The products were distributed nationwide, and may have been sold in Mesa County. The food is being recalled due to a potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.

Description of Recalled Product

• Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese.
• Distributed by Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. of Modesto, CA.
• 8oz. “puck” shape wrapped in clear plastic marked with red and black lettering on the bottom.
• Sell by date of 05/12/24.
• Batch number is 4DW-23318.

What Should Consumers Do

• Consumers should check their refrigerators for any of the recalled items and throw them out.
• If you have questions, contact the company at 1-800-626-5587.

Listeria Description and Treatment

• Eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis. This can cause a serious infection in young children, older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns.
• Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
• In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. 
• Serious and sometimes fatal infections are possible in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. 
• Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care.