Listeria monocytogenes is 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.
Staphylococcus aureus the bacterium responsible for producing toxins in foods, can cause gastrointestinal illness that usually begins 1-6 hours after eating contaminated food. The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. In more severe cases, headache, muscle cramping, and temporary changes in blood pressure and pulse rate may occur. The illness is usually mild and most patients recover after one to three days. In a small minority of patients the illness may be more severe. In these cases, some people, especially the very young and old, may require medical treatment for dehydration from vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Oaxaca String Cheese "La Original" ( 17.63 /500 gr presentation) was distributed in California through retail stores and distributors.
The recalled product comes in a 17.63 ounce (500 gr), clear plastic package marked- Oaxaca String Cheese, "La Original de Oaxaca" with a UPC code of 8 90512 00104 2, Lot # 1360912 with expiration date 01/09/2011.