4 days ago
Cheese Recall Over 'Rodent Activity' Sparks Diarrhea Warning
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A cheese has been recalled due to "rodent activity," with food inspectors urgently warning customers to dispose of the product to prevent risk of illnesses.
Quesito El Establo of Salem, New Hampshire, on Tuesday announced the recall of its Spanish Cheese (Quesito Colombiano) manufactured in its facility and sold in Hispanic/Latino retail stores in Massachusetts. The recall affects about 2,100 items, the company told Newsweek.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors observed "the presence of rodent, rodent activity, and other insanitary conditions during the manufacturing and storage process" during an inspection earlier that day, the company said.
Why It Matters
The FDA said the presence of rodent activity and other insanitary conditions during manufacturing and storage may have allowed contamination by salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. The FDA recall notice listed vulnerable groups at greater risk—infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems—and described symptoms including fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
What To Know
The company paused production while the agency and the firm investigated.
Quesito El Establo told Newsweek via email on Wednesday the company was looking for a new site and hoped to move within three months, subject to regulatory approvals.
A spokesperson said the issues raised may have been caused by "seasonal climate conditions and increased pest activity in the surrounding area," and that it had carried out deep cleaning, enhanced pest control measures, upgraded facilities, updated paperwork protocols, and retrained employees.
The affected product was described as plastic-wrapped cheese placed in Ziploc bags of approximately 1 pound, featuring a blue sticker with a cow image and the words "Quesito Colombiano" in yellow.
The FDA said products with the expiration code "AUG 22 2025" or earlier were included in the recall.
The label attached to the packaging of the Spanish Cheese (Quesito Colombiano) being recalled.
The label attached to the packaging of the Spanish Cheese (Quesito Colombiano) being recalled.
Quesito El Establo/FDA
The agency said that no illnesses had been reported to date.
Consumers with concerns about possible salmonella symptoms have been advised to seek medical attention, especially if they belonged to high-risk groups.
Consumers were advised not to consume the recalled product and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. For questions, the company provided a contact number: 617-842-0513, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
What People Are Saying
An Quesito El Establo spokesperson told Newsweek via email on Wednesday: "Following the FDA inspection, observations included the presence of rodents and other unsanitary conditions in certain production and storage areas.
"While no laboratory tests have confirmed contamination and no illnesses have been reported, these findings may have been influenced by external factors such as seasonal climate conditions and increased pest activity in the surrounding area.
"As a precaution, production was halted immediately, and we have implemented corrective actions including deep cleaning, enhanced pest control measures, facility upgrades, updated SOPs, and employee retraining to ensure the highest food safety standards moving forward."
What Happens Next
FDA inspectors are expected to carry out an evaluation of the health hazard. Recalls are classified into three categories to indicate the relative degree of risk. They are:
