Oaxaca String Cheese Recall Due to Listeria and Staphylococcus Aureus

Surtex Foods Co. of Los Angeles recalled Oaxaca string Cheese La Original in their 17.63 oz/ 500 gr presentation because of the risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.The string cheese recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the FDA which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

The recalled product comes in a 17.63 ounce (500 gr), clear plastic package marked- Oaxaca String Cheese, “La Original de Oaxaca” with a UPC code of 8 90512 00104 2, Lot # 1360912 with expiration date 01/09/2011. Oaxaca String Cheese “La Original” ( 17.63 /500 gr presentation) was distributed in California through retail stores and distributors. No other products or batches from this company and/or product that have been distributed were affected by this recall.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Listeriosis is the infection caused by consuming food contaminated with Listeria. The disease affects primarily persons of advanced age, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. However, persons without these risk factors can also rarely be affected.

Complications of listeriosis include the following:

Listeria Meningitis

Listeria Septicemia

Pneumonia

Hydrocephalus

Encephalitis

Seizures

Blindness

Brain Stem Damage

Cranial Nerve Palsies

Cervical Cord Compression

Miscarriage

Stillbirth

Staphylococcus aureus the bacterium responsible for producing toxins in foods, can cause gastrointestinal illness that usually begins 1-6 hours after eating contaminated food. The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. In more severe cases, headache, muscle cramping, and temporary changes in blood pressure and pulse rate may occur. The illness is usually mild and most patients recover after one to three days. In a small minority of patients the illness may be more severe. In these cases, some people, especially the very young and old, may require medical treatment for dehydration from vomiting and/or diarrhea.

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