(WWJ) Check your fridge! Trader Joe's is recalling a variety of products containing cotija cheese that may be contaminated with harmful bacteria.
The recalled items, sold at Trader Joe's stores nationwide, include the following:
• Trader Joe’s Chicken Enchiladas Verde (SKU 58292)
• Trader Joe’s Cilantro Salad Dressing (SKU 36420)
• Trader Joe’s Elote Chopped Salad Kit (SKU 74768)
• Trader Joe’s Southwest Salad (SKU 56077)
(See more product images here).
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the cheese used in these products has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people may suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriage and stillbirths among pregnant women.
No illnesses have been reported related to these Trader Joe's products to date, officials said.
Anyone who purchased any of the recalled products should throw them away, or return them to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund.
The cotija cheese associated with the recall was manufactured by Rizo-López Foods, Inc. On 2/5/2024, Rio- López Foods initiated a recall of dairy items, including cotija cheese, under multiple brand names amid an investigation into a listeria outbreak.
The cheese has been linked to 26 illnesses, 23 hospitalizations and two deaths, according to health officials States with listeria cases associated with the cheese so far are Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington state.
Learn more about the outbreak here.
Customers with questions about the Trader Joe's recall should contact Trader Joe's Customer Relations at 626-599-3817 (Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time).