Whether you are having a snack, a salad or topping tacos, if you have a specific brand of cheese at home, it may be putting you and your loved ones in danger. On February 27, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced that El Abuelito had expanded a recall of its cheese products due to potential bacterial contamination. Read on to find out if you have one of the affected cheeses at home – and what to do if so. And for more food to avoid, if you eat that snack at home, get rid of it now, says the FDA.
Although the FDA stated in a previous recall notice that it was El Abuelito’s fresh queso that should be avoided, the recall has now been expanded to include 15 different products. The recalled cheese now includes 12 ounces, 5 pounds and 10 pounds. loose vacuum packs and loose vacuum bags from El Abuelito Quesillo Abuelito; 10 pounds vacuuming loose bags of El Viejito cheese; 5 pounds and 10 pounds. vacuum bags of El Paisano cheese; 10 pounds vacuum bags of El Sabrosito cheese; 5 pounds vacuum bags of La Cima cheese; 5 pounds vacuum bags of Quesos Finos cheese; 14 pounds bags of São Carlos cheese; 5 and 10 pounds. Ideal cheese vacuum bags; 12 oz. shell containers from El Abuelito Requeson Ricotta; and 12 ounces. shell containers from El Viejito Requeson / Ricotta. The individual UPC information for each product can be found in the recall notice. And for another dairy product that could put you at risk, check if your milk carton doesn’t say that, the CDC says don’t drink.
The collected cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which usually causes temporary symptoms in healthy individuals, such as nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, severe headaches, high fever and stiffness. However, in immunocompromised, elderly and young children, the bacterium can cause fatal infections; and in pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. And to avoid further health risks, if you have these spices at home, get rid of them, says the USDA.
El Abuelito products were initially distributed in only seven states – Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia – but the recall notice explains that just because you don’t live in one of those places, it doesn’t. That means that you are free.
“Retailers may have repackaged Quesillo in bulk in smaller containers and sold this repackaged product for consumption,” explains the FDA warning, so the labeling information in the recall notice may not take into account all affected products. And for the latest recall news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
If you have any of the affected cheeses at home, throw them away immediately or return them to the point of sale for a full refund. However, this is not the only precaution you should take to stay safe. The FDA notes that “Listeria it can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces, ”which is why they recommend cleaning and sanitizing any dishes or surfaces in your home that may have come in contact with the affected cheese. And to get more items out of your kitchen as quickly as possible, if you eat this meat at home, throw it away now, says the USDA.