Del Bueno of Grandview, Wash., is recalling all size packages of Queso Fresco Fresh Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Queso Fresco Fresh Cheese was distributed to retail markets in Washington and one in Hermiston, Ore.
The cheese is packaged in round clear plastic packages, and is marked on the back with a code date; all codes up to and including May 30, 2010, are being recalled.
Washington State Department of Agriculture has linked one illness to the cheese.
The recall is the result of a routine sampling program by Washington State Department of Agriculture which revealed that the cheese is contaminated with Listeria. The company has notified their customers and has pulled the product from retail stores. Del Bueno is working with FDA to conduct the recall.
Consumers who have purchased Del Bueno brand Queso Fresco are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
