Listeria in Queseria Bendita cheeses has killed one person in Washington and sickened and sickened two others. A recall has been issued for the cheese made at the company’s plant in Yakima, Washington. Consumers who have purchased this cheese should not eat it as they risk serious, life-threatening illness if they do.
Soft cheese is high risk food for Listeria monocytogenes exposure. If the soft cheese is made from unpasteurized, or raw, milk, the risk is even higher. Here’s a summary of some recent listeriosis outbreaks:
A November 2000 Listeria outbreak in North Carolina linked to queso fresco sickened 12 people, hospitalizing all of them.
In February 2003, Listeria in unpasteurized queso fresco sickened 12 people in Texas, hospitalizing all and killing one patient.
In June 2005, a Texas Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to queso fresco sickened 12 people, hospitalizing all of them.
An August 2006 Listeria outbreak in Oregon linked to pasteurized cheese sickened three people, hospitalizing two and killing one.
In October 2008 a multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to pasteurized Mexican-style cheeses sickened eight people, hospitalizing four of them.
In June 2009, a multistate Listeria outbreak linked to pasteurized Mexican-style soft cheese sickened eight people, hospitalizing three of them
A November 2009 cheese Listeria outbreak sickened two people in Washington, both were hospitalized because their illnesses were so severe.
In March 2010 a multistate Listeria outbreak linked to pasteurized Mexican-style cheeses sickened six people, hospitalizing four and killing one.
A July 2011 New Jersey outbreak that sickened two people was linked to Mexican-style soft cheese
In August 2011, a Michigan Listeria outbreak linked to pasteurized ackawi cheese and chives cheese sickened two people and killed one of them.
In October 2011, unpasteurized blue-veined cheese was linked to a multistate outbreak that sickened 15 people and killed one.
In 2012, Listeria in Frescolina Marte Brand Ricotta Salata Cheese sickened 22 people in 14 states, killing four.
In 2013 Listeria monocytogenes in Crave Brothers cheese sickened six people in five states killing one of them.
In October 2014, a three-state outbreak linked to recalled Oasis cheeses killed one person and sickened two others.
In March 2014, an outbreak linked to recalled Roos Cheese sickened eight people in Maryland and California, killing one of them.
