A long-running Listeria outbreak linked to a California-based cheese and dairy company has resulted in a federal order to cease production. Rizo-Lopez Foods, the company at the center of the investigation, has been directed to halt all food preparation and processing operations by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to multiple news reports.
Listeria infection is particularly dangerous for certain vulnerable populations. Pregnant individuals, people aged 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems are at highest risk. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant individuals, listeriosis can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infections in newborns.
The outbreak, which began in 2014, has claimed two lives and sickened dozens across 11 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 26 cases of Listeria tied to the same strain, with 23 individuals requiring hospitalization.
The timeline of the outbreak reveals its persistence and the challenges in tracing its origin. After the initial detection in 2014, a death was reported in California in 2017, followed by another in Texas in 2020.
For years, investigators struggled to pinpoint the source of the outbreak. A breakthrough came earlier this year when Hawaiian officials found Listeria in cheese products manufactured by Rizo-Lopez Foods, which connected the company to the decade-old outbreak. Subsequent federal inspections at the company’s factory revealed the presence of Listeria, further implicating Rizo-Lopez Foods.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District has approved an injunction requiring the company to notify the FDA before resuming any food-related operations. In a statement, the Justice Department and FDA emphasized their commitment to enforce actions against food manufacturers who fail to meet safety standards.
The last few months have seen substantial coverage of a massive Listeria outbreak linked to sliced deli meat from Boar’s Head that has left 10 dead and many more hospitalized. On Wednesday, Food Poisoning News reported on another large food recall due to potential Listeria contamination by Oklahoma-based BrucePac.
Commenting on this story, one national Listeria lawyer, who has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the Boar’s Head incident, said, “Rigorous food safety regulations exist to protect both the nation’s food supply and health of the general public. The closure of this company is a consequence of what appears to be years of negligence.”
