Company Announcement Date: January 02, 2020

FDA Publish Date: January 02, 2020

Product Type: Food & Beverages

Cheese/Cheese Product

Reason for Announcement: Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

Company Name: Limena, LLC

Brand Name: Limena, LLC

Product Description: Salvadorean String Cheese (Quesillo Cheese) semi-soft cheese

Limena, LLC of Palm Springs, FL. is recalling its 1 lb. (16 ounce) blocks of Salvadorean String Cheese (Quesillo Cheese) semi-soft cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled "Salvadorean String Cheese (Quesillo Cheese)" was distributed to retail stores and through mail orders.

The product has a blue and white label and comes in a 1 lb. (16 oz.), clear plastic vacuum package marked with lot #1041020 on the top. The Expiration date is blank.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in one sample of 1 lb. (16 ounce) blocks of Salvadorean String Cheese (Quesillo Cheese).

The production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue to investigate the source of the problem.

Consumers who have purchased the 1 lb. block of Salvadorean String Cheese (Quesillo Cheese) are urged to discard the product. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (561) 541-5206, M-F, 8 am - 6 pm EST.