Cheeses manufactured by El Ranchero Del Sur have been recalled in New Jersey, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced.
El Ranchero Del Sur, LLC. of South River, New Jersey is recalling El Ranchero Queso Fresco 14-ounce (Fresh Cheese), Los Corrales Queso Fresco en Hoja De Platano 14-ounce (Fresh Cheese In Banana Leaf), El Ranchero Queso Oaxaca 14-ounce and 10-pound (String Cheese) over concerns the cheese products may be contaminated with the dangerous, sometimes deadly Listeria monocytogenes, pathogen.
El Ranchero Queso Fresco, Los Corrales Queso Fresco en Hoja De Platano, and El Ranchero Queso Oaxaca were distributed from February 23, 2012 through March 14, 2012 and were sold by direct delivery to New Jersey and Pennsylvania retail stores, supermarkets, and restaurants.
El Ranchero Queso Fresco with UPC 88052230013 and Los Corrales Queso Fresco en Hoja De Platano with UPC 880522300037 are packaged in a 14-ounce plastic clamshell. El Ranchero Queso Oaxaca is packaged in a 14-ounce shrink wrap with UPC 880522300068 and a10-pound plastic loose wrap with UPC 88522300051.
The State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services discovered that one product—Los Corrales Queso Fresco en Hoja De Platano (Fresh Cheese in Banana Leaf)—was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Since, El Ranchero Del Sur, LLC ceased production and distribution of these products. The FDA and El Ranchero del Sur continue their investigation into the problem.
The firm advises consumers in possession of the recalled products to keep them refrigerated until they can be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund. El Ranchero Del Sur, LLC can be reached by telephone at 1.732.967.9265 from Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
The Listeria monocytogenes pathogen can lead to the listeriosis infection, which is potentially fatal and can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhea, and nausea, especially in those with weakened immune systems, infants, and the elderly.
Vulnerable populations, such as the developing fetus, can suffer serious central nervous system problems. The infection can also prompt premature births, or the death of the fetus via miscarriage and stillbirth; pregnant women are 20 times likelier to become infected.
Listeriosis can lead to hearing loss or brain damage in newborns, and can lead to neurological effects and cardio respiratory failure in adults.
