In February 2021, El Abuelito recalled all Queso Fresco, Quesillo, and Requeson after it was linked to a deadly outbreak of Listeria illnesses.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting El Abuelito Queso Fresco induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with a Listeria infection, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Recalled Cheese Distributed in 26 States, FDA Warns
March 9, 2021 — States with confirmed distribution now include: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Click here for more recall information.
Deadly Listeria Outbreak Linked to El Abuelito Cheese
March 1, 2021 — According to the CDC outbreak investigation, 11 people were infected with Listeria, including 1 person who died and 10 people who were hospitalized, after eating Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheese. Illnesses were reported in Connecticut (1), Maryland (4), New York (4), and Virginia (2) from October 2020 through February 2021.
El Abuelito Recalls All Queso Fresco, Quesillo, and Requeson Due to Listeria
On February 27, 2021, El Abuelito expanded a recall to include all Queso Fresco (Fresh, soft cheese), Quesillo (Oaxaca, string cheese), and Requeson (Ricotta) after it was linked to an outbreak of Listeria illnesses.
A sample of El Abuelito cheese tested positive for a strain of Listeria that matched the outbreak strain. In response, the recall has been expanded to include the following cheeses:
- El Abuelito Cheese® Quesillo Abuelito
- El Abuelito Cheese® (Requeson Ricotta)
- El Viejito®
- El Viejito® (Requeson / Ricotta)
- El Paisano®
- El Sabrosito®
- La Cima®
- Quesos Finos®
- San Carlos®
- Ideal®
- Click here for a list of some stores where El Abuelito cheese was sold
El Abuelito Recalls 17 Types of Queso Fresco
On February 19, 2021, El Abuelito recalled 17 types of queso fresco due to a risk of Listeria. The queso fresco recall involves products with sell-by dates through 032821 (March 28, 2021), including products that were sold under the brand-names El Abuelito®, Rio Grande Food Products®, and Rio Lindo®.
El Abuelito Queso Fresco Recall
El Abuelito recalled the following El Abuelito® Queso Fresco products:
- El Abuelito Queso Fresco Regular
- El Abuelito Queso Fresco Promoción
- El Abuelito Queso Fresco de Hoja
- El Abuelito Queso Fresco
- El Abuelito Queso Fresco Guatemala
Rio Grande Food Products Recall
El Abuelito recalled the following Rio Grande Food Products® Queso Fresco products:
- Chirilagua Queso de Hacienda
- Queso Fresco Campestre con Hoja
- Queso Fresco Campestre Artesanal
- Queso Fresco con Hoja
- Queso Fresco Yorito
- Queso Fresco Olancho
- Cuajada Fresca Guatemalteca
- Cuajada Fresca Hondureña
- Cuajada Fresca Salvadoreña
Rio Lindo Queso Fresco Recall
El Abuelito recalled the following Rio Lindo® Queso Fresco products:
- Rio Lindo Queso Fresco Mexicano
- Rio Lindo Queso Fresco Hondureño
- Rio Lindo Queso Fresco Salvadoreño
El Abuelito Queso Fresco Tests Positive for Listeria
February 16, 2021 — The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) warned people not to eat, serve or sell El Abuelito Queso Fresco cheese after lab tests were positive for Listeria monocytogenes in samples that were collected from a store in Connecticut in early February 2021.
What is the Problem?
One sick person who was hospitalized due to a severe Listeria infection said they bought Hispanic-style fresh soft cheese from the unnamed store in Connecticut where health officials collected the sample of El Abuelito Queso Fresco.
What Queso Fresco Tested Positive for Listeria?
The sample of queso fresco that tested positive for Listeria was manufactured by El Abuelito, a cheese-maker in Paterson, New Jersey. It was sold fresh in a 10-ounce plastic container with a sticker labeled with Lot #A027 and Expiration Date: February 26, 2021
What Should I Do?
Health officials are warning high-risk people not to eat any type of Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses, such as queso fresco, due to a risk of life-threatening food poisoning infections or death. High-risk people are those with vulnerable immune systems, including pregnant women, young children, elderly people, and those with certain medical conditions.
Do I have an El Abuelito Queso Fresco Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting El Abuelito Queso Fresco induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with a Listeria infection, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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