2024 Recalls of Food Products Associated with Dairy Products from Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. due to the Potential Risk of Listeria monocytogenes

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multi-year, multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to queso fresco and cotija cheeses manufactured by Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc., of Modesto, California. A sample of Rizo Bros Aged Cotija tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes during sampling conducted by the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch in January 2024. In response to that finding, Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. voluntarily recalled one batch of Rizo Bros Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese (8oz) on January 11, 2024. CDC and FDA reopened the investigation in January 2024 after new illnesses were reported in December 2023 and whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of the cotija cheese sample showed that it is the same strain of Listeria that is causing illnesses in this outbreak. In response to this investigation, Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. has voluntarily recalled all sell by dates of its dairy products. The recalled products include cheese, yogurt, and sour cream sold under the brand names Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Rio Grande, Food City, El Huache, La Ordena, San Carlos, Campesino, Santa Maria, Dos Ranchitos, Casa Cardenas, and 365 Whole Foods Market.

More information including advice for consumers, restaurants, and retailers is available at FDA's Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Queso Fresco and Cotija Cheese (February 2024)

The table below lists recalls conducted by companies that further processed the dairy products by using them as ingredients in new products or by repackaging them.

Company Announcement Date	Brand(s)	Product Description	Company Name
02/07/2024	Trader Joe’s	Chicken Enchiladas Verde, Cilantro Salad Dressing, Elote Chopped Salad Kit, Southwest Salad	Trader Joe’s Company
02/07/2024	Rojo’s	Black Bean 6 Layer Dip	Simply Fresh LLC
02/07/2024	Don Pancho, HEB, Trader Joe’s	Cilantro Lime Crema, Everything Sauce Fiesta, Cilantro Cotija dressing, Poblano Caesar dressing, Cilantro Dressing, Street Taco Express Meal Kit	Fresh Creative Foods
02/08/2024	Marketside, Ready Pac Bistro	Southwest Chopped Salad Kit, Bacon Ranch Crunch Kit, Fresh Mex Chopped Kit, Queso Crunch Salad Kit	Ready Pac Foods, Inc.
02/08/2024	Bright Farms	Bright Farms Southwest Chipotle Crunch Kit salad kit	BrightFarms, Inc.
02/08/2024	Fresh Express, marketside	Fresh Express Salsa! Ensalada Kit, Marketside Southwest Chopped Salad Kit	Fresh Express
02/09/2024	Marketside	Bacon Ranch Crunch Chopped Salad Kit	Braga Fresh
02/09/2024	Marketside	Marketside Bacon Ranch Crunch Salad Kit	Taylor Fresh Foods
02/09/2024	Fresh and Ready, Sprig and Sprout, Jack and Olive	Torta sandwiches	Fresh and Ready Foods
02/08/2024	Albertsons, Safeway, Eagle, Carrs-Safeway, Pavilions, Vons, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw's, Star Market, Lucky	Chicken Taco Kits and Meals	Albertsons Companies
02/09/2024	Dole, Marketside, President’s Choice	Salad kits	Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc.
02/10/2024	The Perfect Bite Co.	Mexican Style Street Corn Bites	The Perfect Bite Co.
02/09/2024	SaveMart	Chicken Street Taco Kit	The Save Mart Companies
02/09/2024	Stater Bros.	Chicken Street Taco Kit	Stater Bros. Markets
02/12/2024	No Brand	Chicken Street Taco Kit	Sprouts Farmers Market
02/13/2024	No Brand	Ham & Cotija Torta Sandwich on Telera Roll	MG Foods
02/14/2024	No Brand	Chicken Street Taco Kit	Bristol Farms
02/12/024	Rico	Enchiladas	Rico Brand

Public Notifications

Companies have issued public notifications for products linked to the Rizo-López Foods, Inc. dairy products recall that were sold at retail locations. Some of the public notifications are listed here:

Costco Member Letter for Southwest Wrap (Item #29433)
Costco Member Letter for Chicken Street Taco Kit (Item #11545) BA, LA and Select NW & SD Locations
Costco Member Letter for Maverick Foods Chipotle Chicken and Rice Bowl (Item #1704074) TE Locations