Feb. 9, 2024. Reno/Sparks, Nev. – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a recall of dairy products from Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. due to a multistate outbreak of infections due to Listeria monocytogenes. The items include queso fresco and cotija cheeses, yogurt, and sour cream, as well as products made with these recalled food items sold at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market and more stores in Nevada and throughout the U.S.

Illnesses have been linked to 11 states, including one reported illness in southern Nevada. Some recalled products were shipped to Trader Joe’s and Costco locations in Reno and Sparks, but those retailers have removed them from store shelves.

Some of the recalled products. Image courtesy CDC

A full list of all affected products, with additional information, is available at the FDA’s website and the CDC’s website.

Infections due to Listeria, called listeriosis, are the third-leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, and these infections are most likely to sicken people who are pregnant and their newborns, adults 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms usually start within 24 hours after exposure, but may not appear for up to two weeks, and include fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or even seizures.

Those who are pregnant are at greater risk for miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH), formerly the Washoe County Health District, encourages residents to follow federal guidance to check for any recalled items, and discard any that are found. If you or anyone you know has eaten any of these recalled items and are experiencing symptoms, visit your doctor for a lab test. Most people with intestinal listeriosis illness recover without the use of antibiotics, while more serious infections may require antibiotic treatment. During pregnancy, prompt antibiotic treatment might help keep the infection from affecting the baby.

You can find more information about the recall on the CDC’s website, including the agency’s ongoing investigations, and additional guidance.

NNPH also has resources and information on foodborne illness and outbreaks available at our website.

• CDC Recall announcement: https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/cheese-02-24/index.html
• NNPH Foodborne Illness & Outbreak Program Resources: https://www.nnph.org/programs-and-services/environmental-health/food-protection-services/foodborne-illness-and-outbreak-program.php

Please note the Washoe County Health District changed its name to Northern Nevada Public Health on Aug. 31, 2023. More information is here.

Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making District Board of Health. NNPH consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.