Maryland Listeria Outbreak Tied to Hispanic-Style Cheeses

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is warning people not to eat any cheeses produced by Roos Foods after seven Maryland residents have become ill in a listeria outbreak linked to Hispanic-style cheese.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that one child has died in California from the contaminated product, reports CBS DC.

All the Maryland victims had reported eating soft or semi-soft Hispanic-style cheese that they purchased at stores within the same grocery store chain. Listeria was detected in a sample of cuajada en terron, or fresh cheese curd, purchased at that chain, the TV station says.

The CDC will not release the name of the grocery store.

The state health department said the cheese was “likely produced by” Roos Foods of Kenton, Del., and repackaged by the grocery store chain. Roos Foods cheese is sold under brand names Santa Rosa de Lima, Amigo, Mexicana, Suyapa, La Chapina, and La Purisima Crema Nica.

Listeria causes fever and muscle aches, often with other gastrointestinal symptoms, the TV station says. It is especially dangerous to pregnant women because it easily passes through to the fetus.