Sargento is recalling 22 types of cheese due to nationwide listeria outbreak that has hospitalized nearly 20 people in 11 states
Cheese manufacturer Sargento is recalling some of its shredded and grated cheeses over concerns they are contaminated with listeria.
The Wisconsin-based multibillion-dollar company said it had distributed its products to food service companies in 15 states, but not directly to stores where ordinary Americans could buy them.
Sargento’s decision came following a major recall in February of its supplier’s cheese. California-based Rizo-Lopez Foods Inc. had to recall dozens of products due to a deadly listeria outbreak that sickened 26 people and killed two of them.
Out of an abundance of caution, Sargento recalled 22 types of cheeses, including those supplied by Rizo-Lopez Foods and others packaged on the same production lines.
Sargento terminated its contract with Rizo-Lopez and notified affected customers, a company spokesperson said.
Included in the recall were five types of cheddar cheese, as well as several cheese blends: Parmesan, Asiago, Monteray Jack, Swiss and Cotija.
The map shows where the 26 people sick with listeria live. Since June 2014, 26 people have become ill with listeriosis due to contaminated products from California-based Rizo-Lopez Foods Inc.
The FDA and CDC are in the grip of a nationwide listeria outbreak fueled by Rico-Lopez Foods, whose queso fresco and Cotija cheese have been linked to 26 diseases in 11 states.
Of these 26 diseases, 23 people have been hospitalized and two of them have died.
The Sargento recall applies to products distributed to foodservice establishments in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.
A Sargento spokesperson said: “On February 5, out of an abundance of caution, Sargento voluntarily recalled products supplied by Rizo-Lopez Foods Inc. and products packed on the same lines.
“This recall did not affect Sargento brand products. Sargento immediately terminated its relationship with Rizo-Lopez Foods Inc. and immediately notified our customers.”
Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, which is commonly found in dirty water, irrigation water, soil and fertilizer.
An estimated 1,600 Americans contract listeriosis each year and about 260 people die.
Among other things, the pathogen is the only one that causes foodborne illness because it thrives at low temperatures, such as in a refrigerator. During storage it can multiply to dangerous levels.
The infection begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and convulsions.
The time between consuming the bacteria and showing signs of illness can often last eight to 90 days, and some people end up in the hospital with dehydration.
The most vulnerable people are pregnant women and their newborn children, as well as seniors over 65 and people with weak immune systems.
Sargento’s latest recall follows one by Modesto, California-based Rizo-Lopez Foods in February remember more than 60 products sold throughout the country.
The recalled products were sold in more than 600 Walmart stores in 12 states: Alabama, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
They also sold at 28 Sam’s Club locations in six states: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming.
It took years for the FDA and CDC to determine which manufacturer was behind an ongoing listeria outbreak that has been affecting people since June 2014. Agencies investigated the outbreak in 2017 and 2021 but did not have enough information to identify a specific brand.
But they reopened the investigation last month after health officials in Hawaii found listeria in a sample from Rizo-Lopez’s Cotija.
That led to a recall in January that has since been expanded to include cheese, yogurt and sour cream.