Firm Recalls Nine Brands of Cheese

A Carson firm has voluntarily recalled nine brands of Mexican-style cheese products after routine sampling by state food and agriculture inspectors detected the potentially dangerous Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, officials said Friday.

Although there have been no illnesses linked to the products, state officials said all packages of Azteca Cheese Co. products marked with certain code dates should be discarded, state officials said. Officials with Azteca could not be reached for comment.

“I would say there is no need to be in a panic but [consumers] should definitely be aware and be informed” about the contaminated products, said Lane Therrell, spokeswoman for the state Department of Food and Agriculture. “If you are healthy and get the bacteria, you will experience flu-like symptoms.

“But if you are pregnant or have a compromised immune system from AIDS or something else, it could be dangerous,” she added.

In 1985, an epidemic linked to the Listeria bacteria and contaminated cheese distributed throughout the state was blamed for 84 deaths, half of them in the Los Angeles area.

The Azteca products, Therrell said, were distributed primarily in metropolitan Los Angeles. Markets that carry the brands were removing them from the shelves, Therrell said, noting that restaurants and individuals that have purchased the products should discard them immediately.

Azteca recalled the following Queso Azteca products with codes of May 2 through May 11:

* Cotija brand all-natural cheese and part skim-milk cheese in 50-pound to 60-pound random-weight wheels.

* Queso de Casa whole-milk cheese in 13-pound to 14-pound random-weight wheels.

* Panela Casera part skim-milk cheese in 10-pound “basket” wheels.

* Queso Oaxaca part skim-milk cheese in 10- to 11-pound random-weight balls.

* Queso Crema whole-milk cheese in 3- to 4-pound “basket” wheels.

* Queso Fresco whole-milk cheese in 12-ounce wheels.

* Queso Panela whole-milk cheese in 12-ounce wheels.

* Queso Adobera part skim-milk cheese in 5-pound loaves.

Azteca also recalled the following product coded April 3:

* Requeson part skim-milk cheese in 28-pound buckets.