More Mexican-Style Soft Cheeses Recalled Due to Listeria Risks

Mexican-style soft cheeses made by Quesos Mi Pueblito and sold in some Northeast states are being recalled because they may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a type of bacteria that can cause severe and even fatal food poisoning.

Mi Pueblito Queso Fresco 14 oz. with a “sell by” date of 9/8/09 is involved in the recall, the Food and Drug Administration said. The recalled cheese was distributed by Puebla Foods, Inc., of Passaic, N.J. to retail stores and food wholesalers throughout New York City, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia, the FDA said. It was packaged in clear plastic pouches stamped with a UPC code of 2407710025.

While no consumer illnesses have been reported by people who ate the tainted cheese, listeria poisoning – also called listeriosis – can lead to dire health complications, particularly in frail or elderly people, young children, and others with weakened immune systems.

Most healthy individuals recover from a bout of listeria food poisoning in a few days after developing only mild to moderate symptoms including fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. However, pregnant women may suffer from miscarriage or still birth after infection with listeria bacteria, the FDA warns.

The recall of Mi Pueblito Queso Fresco cheese is just the latest in a string of recent actions involving listeria contamination in other brands of soft cheeses, sprouts, smoked salmon, and other foods.

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