Roos Food recently announced that it was recalling several types of its cheeses due to probably Listeria contamination. The recall was expanded on March 1, 2014, and now includes all lots and all products sizes of the following Roos brands: Amigo, Anita, Mexicana, and Santa Rose de Lima. Our team of Listeria food poisoning lawyers details the causes and complications of this recall.
These cheeses are wrapped in clear plastic inside Styrofoam trays and clear rigid plastic containers. Many Roos sour creams and butter are also included in the recall, including the brands: Santa Rosa de Lima, Amigo, Crema Pura Mexicana, and La Chapina Crema. A full list of the affected products can be found here, on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. The sour creams were packaged in white plastic tubes, and clear plastic bags, pouches, and jars.
Roos is based in Delaware, and ships products primarily to retailers in that state along with Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington D.C. It is yet unclear what exactly caused the Listeria contamination. So far, there have been at least eight Listeria infections reported to the CDC, seven in Maryland and one in California.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-934-6555
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause severe infection in vulnerable patients, such as expectant mothers, the elderly, young children, and those with chronic health conditions. Among the eight patients currently recorded as victims of this outbreak, seven had to be hospitalized, and five were related to pregnant women (two mother-newborn pairs, and one newborn). One patient, in California, has died. These illnesses occurred between August 1, 2013 and November 27, 2013.
Anyone who has purchased a Roose cheese, sour cream, or butter product is urged not to consume any and discard of it immediately. Listeria is a serious health problem in the United States, with several outbreaks per year almost always related to food (typically cheese or fruit). The infection sickens at least 1,600 every year and kills about 260.
How to Protect against Deadly Listeria Poisoning
An estimated one in seven cases of Listeria poisoning occur in pregnant women, which can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, early labor, and illness or death of a newborn. The CDC asserts that pregnant women are ten times more likely to get Listeria infections than those in the general population, and for reasons beyond the scope of this article, Hispanic women are 24 times more likely to get Listeria.
The majority of Listeria infections, however, occur in older adults (65 and older). It is important to know and be able to recognize the signs of Listeria poisoning, so you if you or someone you love becomes infected you can seek immediate medical help.
Symptoms of Listeria poisoning often include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. For pregnant women, the infection typically manifests mostly through fever and fatigue. In others, signs can include headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, confusion and convulsions. In older adults, the infection often causes meningitis or septicemia.
Click to contact our lawyers today
Symptoms of Listeria poisoning often include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. For pregnant women, the infection typically manifests mostly through fever and fatigue. In others, signs can include headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, confusion and convulsions. In older adults, the infection often causes meningitis or septicemia.
For those at highest risk, it is important to:
- Never consume unpasteurized milk or soft cheeses
- Refrigerate leftovers within two hours in shallow, covered containers and eat within 3-4 days
- Know which foods are riskiest and do not consume them
- Head deli meats, including hot dogs, until steaming before eating
- Use thermometers to ensure your refrigerator is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower (freezer should be 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower)
- Avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm are currently investigating cases of serious food contamination throughout the country. If you or someone you love was hospitalized or killed from contaminated food, contact our firm today for a free legal consultation using the box to the right of your screen, or by phone at 800-310-2222.
Call or text 800-934-6555 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
