Party snacks and dairy favorites are on the kill list this Super Bowl weekend—two dead, dozens sickened by a ruthless listeria outbreak tied to products from a California-based food company. Texas Health and Human Services sounded the alarm on foods from queso fresco to salad dressings and now, even your beloved seven-layer bean dip and enchiladas aren't safe, KXAN reports.
The culprit—Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc.—is the manifest source of the bacterial gremlin that has caused at least two deaths, one from Texas and landed over two dozen people in the throes of listeriosis since 2014. But wait, there's more: the expanding recall of the Modesto, California, producer's goods now encompasses everything from cilantro salad dressing to taco kits found at popular grocers like Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Albertson’s.
According to The Associated Press, health officials, who've been playing detective with illnesses reported in 2017 and 2021, could only finger the food firm as the source after fresh cases surfaced in December. That breakthrough has led Rizo Lopez Foods to call back more than 60 products—including yogurt and sour cream—sold under a slew of brand names like Tio Francisco and 365 Whole Foods Market.
For those worried about their Super Bowl gastronomical lineup, the federal government has provided a lifeline. And if the burritos you snagged from Amazon Kitchen are in your freezer, pay heed—some contain ingredients from the listeria-laced lot. CDC warns that around 1,600 people get knocked down by this foodborne baddie annually, with pregnant women, seniors, and individuals with weakened immune systems most at risk.
If you're holding the hot potato—the recalled products, that is—pitch 'em, then launch a cleaning crusade on your kitchen. Listeria, ever the stubborn invader, can hole up in your fridge and warp any surface into a no-go zone. And for those who've partaken of these tainted treats, symptoms from muscle aches to fatigue can kick off anytime from immediately to two weeks after chowing down. Don't be shy to consult the pros for a chat about your health if you think you've met Mr. Listeria.
