Trader Joe’s Products containing Cotija Cheese - recalled due to Listeria

United States

Trader Joe’s of Monrovia, CA is recalling certain products containing cotija cheese, as the cheese used to make these products has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were sold in Trader Joe’s stores nationwide. No illnesses have been reported related to these products, to date.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer 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.

The cotija cheese that was used to produce the products below was manufactured by Rizo-López Foods, Inc. On 2/5/2024, Rio- López Foods initiated a recall of dairy items, including cotija cheese, under multiple brand names. As a result, Trader Joe’s is recalling all codes of the products listed below that were manufactured with cotija cheese.

Recalled products include all lots of the following products:
- Trader Joe’s Chicken Enchiladas Verde (SKU 58292)
- Trader Joe’s Cilantro Salad Dressing (SKU 36420)
- Trader Joe’s Elote Chopped Salad Kit (SKU 74768)
- Trader Joe’s Southwest Salad (SKU 56077)

If you purchased any of these products, please return them to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund.

In case you are experiencing Listeria monocytogenes symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, it is important to report it. It can help to detect & resolve outbreaks early and prevent others from being harmed, and it enables better surveillance. If symptoms persist, seek medical care.

Company name: Trader Joe’s Company
Brand name: Trader Joe’s
Product recalled: Chicken Enchiladas Verde, Cilantro Salad Dressing, Elote Chopped Salad Kit, Southwest Salad
Reason of the recall: Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
FDA Recall date: February 08, 2024

Source: www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/trader-joes-recalls-certain-products-containing-cotija-cheese-because-they-may-be-contaminated