Cheese Recall as Dire Warning Issued

A stock image of queso cheese. The product was only distributed to certain grocery stores in Utah.

A queso cheese product is being recalled after being contaminated with a potentially deadly bacterium, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced.

Florida-based Tama Corporation is recalling 24-ounce containers of the cheese product “Queso de Mano PAISA” after it was discovered to contain the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium. The contamination was picked up following laboratory analysis after the company was alerted by its co-packing company.

The product, bearing a lot number of 2420104 and a best by date of May 16, 2024, was distributed only to Rancho Market stores in Utah. There have been no reported illnesses linked with consuming the product as of the recall announcement made on April 26.

A statement from Tama Corporation contained in the recall notice reads: “Because of our commitment to the safety of our consumers, at Tama Corporation, we demand rigorous quality controls from our products suppliers.” Following the discovery, the company said it “immediately contacted the involved supermarket chain to halt its sale and account for all the product belonging to that vat.”

“We assure all our consumers, clients and distributors that we have taken all necessary actions, hand in hand with the product manufacturer, the FDA, and the USDA, to prevent the situation from happening again,” the statement continues.

Newsweek has contacted Tama Corporation for additional comment via email outside of normal working hours.

Listeria is an uncommon but sometimes deadly bacterium that can cause listeriosis in humans. It can be found in moist environments, including soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, according to the FDA. It is also capable of surviving under refrigerated conditions.

Listeriosis can cause life-threatening illness in the elderly, children and those with compromised immune systems. The illness has also been linked to causing miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women, and the infection can be passed on to unborn babies, who can develop serious health complications.

According to the FDA, symptoms are most likely to begin in the hours and days after infection. Those with a less serious infection may have a range of unpleasant symptoms, including fever, tiredness, nausea, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea.

If a more serious infection develops, it can result in severe headaches, neck stiffness, loss of balance, confusion and convulsions. Any person with a suspected infection with Listeria should seek medical advice from their healthcare provider, particularly if they are in one of the more at-risk groups.

According to the FDA, previous listeriosis outbreaks in America have largely been found in raw, unpasteurized milk and cheese, ice cream, raw or processed vegetables and fruits, raw or under-cooked poultry, sausages, hot dogs or deli meats, and raw or smoked seafood.

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