The Recall Desk
SevereFDA (Food)·F-1009-2024·Announced 2024-03-06

Sargento Cotija Cheese Products Recalled for Potential Listeria Contamination

Sargento Foods is recalling specific Cotija cheese lots due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled products were distributed across 15 U.S. states and consumers should discard or return them to retail.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: FDA Class I recall with Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Agency Class I designation establishes a minimum severity of 4 per rubric rules, even though no illnesses or deaths are reported in the source text.

Plain-English summary

Sargento Foods, Inc. is recalling three configurations of Sargento-branded Cotija cheese products: (1) Course Grated Cotija Cheese, Pack Size 6/5 lb. (UPC 46100352601); (2) Coarse Grated Cotija Cheese, Pack Size 500/0.5 oz. (UPC 4610035517); and (3) Grated Cotija Cheese, Pack Size 400/1 oz. (UPC 46100355831). Approximately 2,038 cases are affected.

The products are being recalled due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium can cause serious or fatal infections, particularly in young children, elderly persons, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women.

The recalled products were distributed to 15 U.S. states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Affected lots have use-by or best-by dates ranging from February 2024 through July 2024, and specific lot codes are listed in the recall notice.

Consumers should not consume these products. They should discard the recalled items or return them to the retail location where purchased. Anyone who consumed these products and develops symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, or diarrhea should seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider of the potential Listeria exposure.

The recalled product

Product
Cotija cheese packaged in the following configurations: 1. Sargento Course Grated Cotija Cheese Pack Size 6/5 lb. Material #10002578, UPC 46100352601. 2. Sargento Coarse Grated Cotija Cheese. Pack Size 500/0.5 oz. Net Wt. 15.625 lbs. Material #10003245, UPC 4610035517
Manufacturer
Sargento Foods, Inc.
Category
Food — Cheese
Hazard
  • listeria

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Lot numbers (19)

  • Batch / Use By Dates: Product 1: 02203898 / Use By 02/05/24
  • 02205996 / Use By 02/17/24
  • 02207027 / Use By 02/24/24
  • 02209043 / Use By 03/06/24
  • 02210169 / Use By 03/17/24
  • 02211178 / Use By 03/23/24
  • 02212562 / Use By 03/30/24
  • 02213262 / Use By 04/06/24
  • 02216473 / Use By 04/27/24
  • 02218540 / Use By 05/12/2024
  • 02221035 / Use By 06/02/2024
  • 02224663 / Use By 06/25/24
  • 02226594 / Use By 07/07/24
  • 02228944 / Use By 07/20/24. Product 2: 02223954 / Best By APR/17/24
  • 02225676 / Best By MAY/01/24
  • 02229084 / Best By MAY/22/24. Product 3: 02216808 / Best By FEB/28/24
  • 02224928 / Best By APR/25/24
  • 02225677 / Best By MAY/01/24
  • 02226672 / Best By MAY/07/24.

Distribution

Distributed in 15 states:

  • AZ
  • CA
  • FL
  • GA
  • IL
  • IN
  • MD
  • NC
  • NJ
  • NV
  • OH
  • RI
  • TX
  • WA
  • WI

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