Dairy Company Ordered To Cease Operations After Listeria Outbreak

A California-based dairy company has shut down operations following a listeria outbreak responsible for two deaths and dozens of hospitalizations.

“In a civil complaint filed on Sept. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, the United States alleged that Rizo Lopez Foods Inc., along with its president, chief executive officer and co-owner, Edwin Rizo, and its chief financial officer, secretary and co-owner Tomas Rizo, violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) at the company’s facility in Modesto, California, by manufacturing and distributing adulterated food products,” the U.S. Department of Justice said in a press release.

“Rizo Lopez Foods produced cotija cheese and other cheeses, yogurt, sour cream and other foods sold under the brand names Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Rio Grande, Food City, El Huache, La Ordena, San Carlos, Campesino, Santa Maria, Dos Ranchitos, Casa Cardenas and 365 Whole Foods Market,” it continued.

The U.S. District Court entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Rizo Lopez Foods Inc., a California-based food manufacturer, and the company’s co-owners. Among other requirements, the consent decree prohibits the company from manufacturing & selling certain food… pic.twitter.com/8pC8Yaf4E5

— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) October 8, 2024

A federal court has entered into a consent decree with Rizo Lopez Foods Inc. regarding a deadly Listeria outbreak traced to its cheeses. https://t.co/KoB7hV3Cva

— Food Safety News (@foodsafetynews) October 9, 2024

From the Department of Justice:

The complaint further alleged that, in January, Hawaiian state health officials detected Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono), the bacterial pathogen that can cause listeriosis, in cheese made by the defendants. The government further alleged that during a subsequent inspection of the defendant’s facility, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found L. mono in two locations as well as various insanitary conditions. The complaint alleged that a genetic analysis matched the L. mono strain collected in Hawaii to the strain from defendants’ facility, as well as to L. mono samples from patients sickened as early as 2014 during a years-long listeriosis outbreak. An investigation by the Centers for Disease Control identified 26 cases of listeriosis in 11 states linked to the same L. mono strain. The CDC reported that 23 individuals were hospitalized as a result of the outbreak, including two patients who died. In February, Rizo Lopez recalled all cheese and dairy products produced at their facility.

California cheesemaker linked to deadly listeria outbreak ordered to shut down https://t.co/IujNepd1oz

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) October 10, 2024

“Food manufacturers have an important responsibility to ensure the safety of their products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

“The Justice Department and FDA will continue to work closely on enforcement actions against food manufacturers who fail to meet their obligations and put the health of their customers at risk,” Boynton added.

“The defendants agreed to settle the suit and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. The injunction entered by the court permanently enjoins the defendants from violating the FDCA,” the Justice Department noted.

The defendants must discontinue all operations related to preparing and processing food and notify the FDA before resuming such operations.

Per CBS News:

One person died in California in 2017, and another fatality occurred in Texas in 2020, the agency stated. The CDC investigated the outbreak in 2017 and 2021, but did not have enough information to identify a specific brand.

The CDC and Food and Drug Administration reopened an investigation in January after Hawaii officials detected listeria in a sample of Rizo Brothers Aged Cotija. That prompted a limited recall, which in February was expanded to include more than 60 products sold nationwide.

WATCH:

In related news, a food processing company recalled nearly 10 million pounds of meat and poultry products manufactured at an Oklahoma plant due to listeria concerns.

ALERT: Nearly 10 Million Pounds Of Meat Recalled

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

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