The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently warned consumers that a brand of cheese recalled in April could have fatal consequences if consumed.
Tama Corporation recalled 24-ounce containers of “Queso de Mano PAISA” in April after a laboratory analysis identified the product was contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria is a “bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” the press release warned. It is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, who can suffer miscarriages or stillbirths if infected.
On May 23, the FDA updated the recall classification to Class 1. Class 1 is the highest classification of recall issued by the FDA, signifying that “there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The cheese was sold at Rancho Markets stores in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Tama Corporation voluntarily initiated the recall, which affected 216 units of the cheese.
Upon learning of the contamination, the company “immediately contacted the involved supermarket chain to halt its sale and account for all the product belonging to that vat.”
Tama Corporation said no illnesses have been reported to date. A spokesperson from the company told Newsweek that the contamination occurred at one of the manufacturing plants’ lines.
The plant has stopped operations “until a comprehensive preventive plan is fully implemented.” “We assure all our consumers, clients and distributors that we have taken all necessary actions, hand in hand with the product manufacturer, the FDA, and the USDA, to prevent the situation from happening again,” the press release said.
