Queso Fresco Listeria Lawsuit

Hispanic-style fresh soft cheese (queso fresco) has been linked to outbreaks of Listeria food poisoning.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Queso Fresco induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with Listeria food poisoning after eating Queso Fresco (Fresh Cheese), 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.

Death Reported in El Abuelito Listeria Outbreak

March 1, 2021 — The CDC updated the outbreak investigation to report a total of 11 illnesses, including 1 death and 10 people who were hospitalized, after eating Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheese. The illnesses were reported in Connecticut (1), Maryland (4), New York (4), and Virginia (2) between October 2020 and February 2021.

El Abuelito Expands Recalls

February 27, 2021 — El Abuelito has expanded a recall for all Queso Fresco (Fresh, soft cheese), Quesillo (Oaxaca, string cheese), and Requeson (Ricotta) after a sample tested positive for the same strain of Listeria that has caused a multi-state outbreak.

The expanded recall includes the following products:

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 Queso Fresco Cheese Products for Listeria Risk

February 19, 2021 — El Abuelito has recalled 17 varieties of queso fresco (Hispanic-style fresh, soft cheese) due to a risk of Listeria. The recall involves all queso fresco with sell-by dates through 032821 (March 28, 2021).

The recall includes 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

The recall includes 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

The recall includes 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

On February 16, 2021, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) warned that El Abuelito Queso Fresco tested positive for Listeria bacteria. On February 19, health officials reported that it was the same strain of Listeria that has caused a multi-state outbreak.

Where Did It Come From?

El Abuelito Queso Fresco was collected from a store in Connecticut where a sick person reported buying Hispanic-style cheese. On February 19, health officials reported that a sample of cheese tested positive for a strain of Listeria that matched the outbreak strain in a multi-state outbreak of Listeria food poisoning.

El Abuelito is a cheese-maker in Paterson, New Jersey. The product that tested positive for Listeria came in a 10-ounce plastic container, with Lot #A027 and Expiration Date: February 26, 2021.

What is the Problem With Queso Fresco?

Queso fresco and other Hispanic-style soft cheeses made from pasteurized milk have caused several Listeria outbreaks in past years. Pasteurizing milk is supposed to kill Listeria, but cheese that is made from pasteurized milk can still become contaminated with Listeria when it is made in unsanitary facilities.

What is the Risk?

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause severe, life-threatening infections that spread beyond the digestive system into the brain and other parts of the body. High-risk people include pregnant women, adults 65 years or older, and people with weak immune systems due to medical conditions.

Symptoms of Listeria Food Poisoning

Pregnant women may have few symptoms (fever, fatigue, muscle aches), but suffer a miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in the newborn baby.

Non-pregnant people may have symptoms like a fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

The symptoms of a severe illness usually begin 1 to 4 weeks after eating food that was contaminated with Listeria, but symptoms may start as early as the same day or as late as 70 days after.

Do I have a Queso Fresco Listeria Lawsuit?

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