Recall & Advice to Consumers

On March 11, 2014, FDA suspended the food facility registration of Roos Foods in response to this outbreak and findings of unsanitary conditions at the company’s facility during an FDA inspection from February 18–March 4, 2014. A company without a food facility registration cannot distribute any food products.

On March 1, 2014, Roos Foods expanded and clarified the description of products in its recall, which was initiated on February 23 and expanded on February 25. The recall includes all lots and all product sizes and containers of these Amigo, Anita, Mexicana, and Santa Rose de Lima brands of cheeses:

• Cuajada En Terron,
• Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacer,
• Cuajada Fresca,
• Queso Fresco Round,
• Queso Cojito Molido,
• Queso Duro Blando (hard cheese),
• Queso Duro Viejo (hard cheese),
• Requeson,
• Queso de Huerta, and
• Queso Fresco.

These cheeses were packaged in various sized clear plastic wrapped Styrofoam trays, clear plastic wrapped, clear plastic vacuum package, and clear rigid plastic containers.

Roos Foods is also recalling all product sizes and containers of the following sour creams and butter:

• Santa Rosa de Lima Crema Salvadorena Cultured Sour Cream,
• Crema Pura Mexicana Cultured Sour Cream,
• La Chapina Crema Guatemalteca Guatemalan Style Cream,
• Amigo Brand Crema Centroamericana Cultured Sour Cream, and
• Santa Rosa de Lima Mantequilla de Bolsa Tradicion Centroamericana.

These sour creams were packaged in various sized white plastic tubs, clear plastic bags, clear plastic pouches, and clear plastic jars. The recalled products were distributed through retail stores in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

FDA issued a notice of the additional expanded recall on March 2 with advice to consumers, retailers, and restaurants.

Advice to Consumers

This outbreak appears to be over. However, it is possible that consumers might still have recalled cheese in their homes.

• Consumers should not eat any of the following brands of cheese manufactured or repackaged by Roos Foods of Kenton, Delaware:
  • Mexicana
  • Amigo
  • Santa Rosa De Lima
  • Anita
• Consumers should also avoid eating the following recalled sour creams and butter manufactured or repackaged by Roos Foods:
  • Santa Rosa de Lima Crema Salvadorena Cultured Sour Cream,
  • Crema Pura Mexicana Cultured Sour Cream,
  • La Chapina Crema Guatemalteca Guatemalan Style Cream,
  • Amigo Brand Crema Centroamericana Cultured Sour Cream, and
  • Santa Rosa de Lima Mantequilla de Bolsa Tradicion Centroamericana.
• Roos Foods has voluntarily recalled all lots of these brands.  
• This is especially important for pregnant women, older adults, and people with immune systems weakened by cancer, cancer treatments, or other serious conditions (like diabetes, kidney failure, liver disease, and HIV/AIDS).
• Consumers should check their home for these dairy products made or repacked by Roos Foods and throw them away immediately.
  • Even if some of the dairy product has been eaten without anyone becoming ill, the rest of the dairy product should be thrown away.

Contaminated dairy products may still be in consumers’ homes.

Listeria can grow in dairy products at room and refrigerator temperatures. Listeria can also be spread to other dairy products, including cheeses that are cut and served on the same cutting board or stored in the same area as contaminated cheese.

Follow these steps if any dairy products made or repacked by Roos Foods are or were in your home:

• Dispose of the dairy products in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people and animals from eating it.
• Wash the cheese drawer and other areas where the dairy products were stored in the refrigerator with hot water and soap. Sanitize the area with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water.
• Wash cutting boards, surfaces, and utensils used to cut, serve, or store dairy products. If possible, use a dishwasher; otherwise, use hot water and soap, followed by sanitizing with a dilute bleach solution described above.
• Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.

What should I do if I ate dairy products made or repacked by Roos Foods?

• Consumers who develop a fever after eating dairy products manufactured by Roos Foods should seek medical care immediately and tell the health care provider about eating a recalled dairy product. Although people can sometimes develop listeriosis up to 2 months after eating contaminated food, symptoms usually start within several days.
• If you have eaten one of the recalled dairy products and do not have any symptoms, most experts believe that no tests or treatment are needed, even for persons at higher risk for listeriosis.

Who is most at risk?

• Persons in higher-risk categories: pregnant women and their newborns, older adults, and persons with weakened immune systems.

For more information about listeriosis and CDC’s recommendations to reduce your risk of getting sick, go to:

• CDC’s Listeriosis web page on prevention
• La Listeria (in Spanish)
• Vital Signs: Recipe for Food Safety

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Advice to Cheese Retailers, Restaurants, and Other Establishments

Contaminated dairy products may still be in stores and restaurants.

Listeria can grow in dairy products at room and refrigerator temperatures. Listeria can also be spread to other dairy products cut and served on the same cutting board or stored in the same area as contaminated cheese.

Do not sell or serve cheeses made by Roos Foods.

• Dispose of these dairy products.
• Wash and sanitize cheese display cases and refrigerators where contaminated dairy products were stored.
• Wash and sanitize cutting boards, surfaces, and utensils used to cut, serve, or store contaminated dairy products.
• Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.

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