Panela Cheese Products Recalled for Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
Rizo Lopez Foods is recalling Tio Francisco and related panela cheese products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Affected products were distributed across multiple states.
The agency’s classification
FDA (Food): Class I
Class I is a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: This recall is classified as FDA Class I, which mandates a minimum severity score of 4. Listeria monocytogenes is a serious pathogen capable of causing severe illness or death, particularly in vulnerable populations.
Plain-English summary
Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc., operating as Don Francisco Cheese, is recalling Tio Francisco Panela cheese products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products include various brands of panela cheese—Tio Francisco, San Carlos, Dos Ranchitos, La Ordena, and Campesino—available in both regular and bulk (Barra) forms at retail deli counters.
The recall affects panela products with batch codes dating through April 2, 2024. These products were distributed to consumers in the following states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. No foreign distribution has been reported.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause serious illness, especially in vulnerable populations including pregnant women, newborns, elderly individuals, and people with compromised immune systems.
Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled panela products should not consume them and should either dispose of the product or return it to the retailer for a refund or replacement.
The recalled product
- Product
- Tio Francisco Panela 14 oz. UPC 7-27242-00550-0 Food City Panela 16 oz. Tio Francisco, San Carlos, Dos Ranchitos, La Ordena, Campesino Panela Available to consumers at retail deli counters in various sizes Tio Francisco Panela Barra Available to consumers at retail deli…
- Manufacturer
- Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. dba Don Francisco Cheese
- Category
- Food — Dairy / Cheese
- Hazard
Distribution
Part of a larger recall action
This product is one of 14 recalled by Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. dba Don Francisco Cheese under a single FDA (Food) recall action. The agency files each product separately, so the size of the action is not visible from this page alone.
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