United States
Company name: Grandpa Cheese, Inc.
Brand name: El Abuelito, Rio Grande, Rio Lindo
Product recalled: Fresh Cheese
Reason of the recall: Listeria monocytogenes
FDA Recall date: February 24, 2021
Recall details: When a company announces a withdrawal, recall, or a security alert, the FDA publishes the company's announcement as a public service. The FDA does not support either the product or the company.
Paterson's Grandpa Cheese, NJ, is removing all fresh cheese products (fresh, soft cheese) from the market, because they can be potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, fragile or older people. And people with weakened immune systems.
Although healthy people may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
All fresh cheese products with expiration dates until 28 March 2021 (03/28/21) have been withdrawn from the market. The products are marketed under the brand El Abuelito Cheese, distributed in CT, NJ, PA, NY; the brand Río Grande Food Products, distributed in VA, NC, MD; and Rio Lindo distributed in NC and MD.
The products were distributed until February 16, 2021 and were available in supermarkets, wholesale and retail stores. The following products withdrawn from the market were produced in Plant # 34-12179 in the following forms:
- Grandma Cheese. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Regular Fresh Cheese. Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 673130100003
- Grandma Cheese. Size: 10 oz Product Name: Fresh Cheese Promotion. Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 673130100078.
- Grandma Cheese. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Fresh Leaf Cheese. Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 673130100065
- Grandma Cheese. Size: 5 Lb. Product Name: Fresh Cheese Type of packaging: Vacuum packaged. UPC Code: 673130100058
- Grandma Cheese. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Guatemala Fresh Cheese Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 673130100027.
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 12 oz. Product name: Chirilagua Cheese from Hacienda. Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 738529005571
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 14 oz. Product Name: Fresh Country Cheese with Leaf Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 812324031161
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 14 oz. Product Name: Artisan Campestre Fresh Cheese Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 738529002518
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 14 oz. Product Name: Fresh Cheese with Leaf Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 738529004581.
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Yorito Fresh Cheese. Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 738529005564.
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 14 oz. Product Name: Olancho Fresh Cheese Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 812324031222
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Guatemalan Fresh Curd Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 738529001276
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Honduran Fresh Curd Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 738529001269
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Salvadoran Fresh Curd Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 738529001252
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Yorito Fresh Cheese. Package Type: Container made of plastic. UPC Code: 738529005564.
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 14 oz. Product Name: Olancho Fresh Cheese Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 812324031222
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Guatemalan Fresh Curd Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 738529001276
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Honduran Fresh Curd Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 738529001269
- Rio Grande Food Products, Inc.. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Salvadoran Fresh Curd Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 738529001252
- Rio Lindo. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Mexican Fresh Cheese Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 718122088587
- Rio Lindo. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Honduran Fresh Cheese Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 718122088591.
- Rio Lindo. Size: 12 oz. Product Name: Salvadoran Fresh Cheese Package type: Plastic container. UPC Code: 718122088607.
As of February 11, 2021, CDC reported seven people infected with the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak strain in four states. Abuelito has ceased production and distribution of the products while the FDA and El Abuelito continue their investigation into the cause of the problem.
As the FDA stated, on this outbreak investigation, the Connecticut Department of Public Health collected samples of fresh, soft Hispanic-style cheese products from the El Abuelito brand from a store where a sick person bought cheeses. The analysis of the sample showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in El Abuelito fresh cheese samples sold in 10 oz packages, marked as Lot A027 with expiration date 02/26/2021. Currently, samples are undergoing complete genome sequencing analysis (WGS) to determine whether Listeria monocytogenes found in these samples matches the outbreak strain. At this time, there is not enough evidence to determine whether this outbreak is related to El Abuelito Fresh Cheese.
Consumers who have purchased the above fresh cheese products are encouraged not to consume them and return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can contact El Abuelito directly Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST at (973) 345-3503.
Check the full recall details on
www.fda.gov
Source: FDA
