El Ranchero, Los Corrales and Carnes Don Beto Cheese Recalls
| Date: | March 15, 2012 |
| Updated: | March 16, 2012 |
| What: | El Ranchero, Los Corrales, and Carnes Don Beto brands of cheese |
| Why: | Listeria monocytogenes contamination |
| Scope: | New Jersey and Pennsylvania |
Update – March 16, 2012 – El Ranchero Queso Fresco, Los Corrales Queso Fresco en Hoja De Platano, and El Ranchero Queso Oaxaca were distributed from 2/23/12 through 3/14/12 through direct delivery to retail stores, supermarkets and restaurants located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
El Ranchero Queso Fresco (Fresh Cheese) with UPC 88052230013 and Los Corrales Queso Fresco en Hoja De Platano (Fresh Cheese in Banana Leaf) with UPC 880522300037 are packaged in 14 oz. plastic clamshells. El Ranchero Queso Oaxaca (String Cheese) is packaged in a 14 oz. shrink wrap with UPC 880522300068 and 10 lb. plastic loose wrap with UPC 88522300051.
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) Food and Drug Safety Program (FDSP) is warning the public not to consume any cheese products produced by El Ranchero del Sur of South River, New Jersey. On March 2, 2012, a 38-week pregnant woman was diagnosed with Listeria monocytogenes infection at a New Brunswick hospital. Subsequent investigation by the Middlesex County Health Department and product analysis by NJDHSS Public Health Environmental and Agricultural Laboratories confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of Los Corrales Queso Fresco Fresh Cheese and Banana Leaf code dated 03/16/12.
Listeria monocytogenes is 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.
FDSP, with assistance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has obtained a voluntary closure by the firm’s owner while the products and facility are investigated for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. All products and ingredients at the facility have been placed under embargo pending the outcome of laboratory testing.
El Ranchero del Sur has pledged to conduct a recall through the FDA and is contacting its customers to arrange for the retrieval of all of their cheese products. El Ranchero del Sur cheese products can be found primarily in Mexican and Latin American grocery stores, restaurants, and other hispanic food establishments under the name brands El Ranchero, Los Corrales, and Carnes Don Beto with the plant number 34-0013669 marked on the label. All products are 14 ounces in weight except for the Queso Hebra Oaxaca String Cheese ball in 10 pound packages.
FDSP is requesting local health departments to investigate retail food establishments, in their respective jurisdictions, which are likely to sell or use these products in food service, and take actions to remove from sale or service all of the products described above, of all types and code dates.
Consumers with questions about food safety can Ask Heidi, a certified food safety professional.
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