Cheese and products containing a certain type of cheese
A sweeping recall of cheese and other dairy products linked to a deadly listeria outbreak also took place recently. Several types and brands of cheese, including cotija and queso fresco, sold at popular retailers, including Trader Joe’s, have been pulled off the market since February. The products were sold nationwide, with several recalled food products sold at stores in Illinois.
Certain products containing this cotija cheese were also removed from the market, and the ones sold in Trader Joe’s stores are the following: Trader Joe’s Cilantro Salad Dressing, Trader Joe’s Chicken Enchiladas Verde, Trader Joe’s Elote Chopped Salad Kit, and Trader Joe’s Southwest Salad.
To date, no illnesses have been reported linked to these food items. If you bought any of these, please discard them or return them to any Trader Joe’s store, and you’ll receive a full refund. Containers and surfaces that came in contact with the contaminated products should be sanitized, as listeria can survive at refrigeration temperatures and spread.
Listeria is most likely to affect people 65 and older, pregnant women and newborns, and those with weakened immune systems. Infection symptoms usually start within two weeks of consuming contaminated food and include nausea, muscle aches, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and tiredness. More serious cases may also include a stiff neck, confusion, convulsions, headaches, and loss of balance.
