USA – Rizo Lopez Foods, a U.S. cheesemaker based in Modesto, California, has halted production at its facility following a severe listeria outbreak linked to its fresco and cotija-type cheeses.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California has issued a consent decree of permanent injunction against the company and its co-owners, Edwin Rizo and Tomas Rizo.
This action comes after a thorough investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local officials.
The outbreak has been particularly concerning, with 26 reported illnesses across 11 states, including 23 hospitalizations and two fatalities.
Among those affected were four pregnant women, one of whom suffered a pregnancy loss. Listeria poses significant health risks, especially for pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Potential complications include pneumonia, central nervous system damage, endocarditis, localized abscesses, skin lesions, and conjunctivitis.
The investigation began when the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch detected listeria in a cheese sample in January.
Subsequent coordination with the CDC linked the positive test to Rizo Lopez Foods.
An inspection of the Modesto facility confirmed the presence of the same strain of listeria, establishing a direct connection between the cheese and the illnesses reported across the states.
In February, Rizo Lopez Foods voluntarily recalled its entire inventory of dairy products.
The company, known for its Latino, Mexican, and Central American cheeses, including the Don Francisco brand, must now address and rectify the violations identified by the FDA before it can resume production and distribution.
“Producers of fresco-type cheeses are responsible for producing safe food, including being in compliance with food safety laws and regulations,” FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones said.
“Through this unfortunate outbreak, we see what can happen when a company fails to meet their legal responsibilities.”
In a separate investigation, the FDA has also raised alarms over “dairy-free” labeled dark chocolate and chocolate-containing products.
Recent testing revealed that 6.2% of these products contained milk, posing a serious concern for individuals with milk allergies.
The FDA, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Michigan State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, collected and analyzed 210 product samples from retailers in Pennsylvania and Michigan between 2022 and 2023.
The results showed that 13 of the samples contained milk, with one sample testing at 1,083 parts per million (ppm).
All samples had allergen advisory statements, such as “made in a facility that also processes milk,” yet were labeled as “dairy-free.”
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