New Jersey health officials have issued a public health advisory about cheese products produced by El Ranchero del Sur, LLC of South River, NJ. after doctors at a New Brunswick hospital diagnosed a woman who was 38 weeks pregnant with a Listeria monocytogenes infection.
Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of Los Corrales Queso Fresco Fresh Cheese and Banana Leaf dated 03/16/12.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. Those especially volunerable include young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems including pregnant women. Symptoms of a Listeria infection include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In pregnant women, Listeria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the New Jersey Food and Drug Safety Program have obtained a voluntary closure of El Ranchero del Sur, LLC while the products and facility are investigated.
An embargo has been placed on all products and ingredients at the facility pending the outcome of laboratory testing. El Ranchero del Sur officials say they will cooperate with the FDA on a voluntary recall and that they are contacting its customers.
The company’s products can be found primarily in Mexican and Latin American grocery stores, restaurants under the name brands El Ranchero, Los Corrales, and Carnes Don Beto with the plant number 34-0013669 marked on the label. All products weigh 14 ounces except the Queso Hebra Oaxaca String Cheese ball in 10 pound packages.
