PlainRecalls
CriticalClass ITerminated

FDA Food recall · Reported February 12, 2020

QUESOS LA RICURA brand Queso Cotija; Cotija Cheese; AGED OVER 60 DAYS; Ingredients: Raw Milk, Salt, Enzyme and Cultures; KEEP REFRIGERATED/MANTENER REFRIGERADO; NET WT/PESO NETO 12 OZ. (340g); Plant No/Numero de Planta 36-1256; PRODUCT OF NICARAGUA

Possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

Recall #
F-0598-2020
Affected scope
640 units
Initiated
January 24, 2020
Verify with FDA Food →
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Quesos La Ricura, Ltd. recalled QUESOS LA RICURA brand Queso Cotija; Cotija Cheese; AGED OVER 60 DAYS; Ingredients: Raw M… — a critical-severity action.

QUESOS LA RICURA brand Queso Cotija; Cotija Cheese; AGED OVER 60 DAYS; Ingredients: Raw M… was recalled by Quesos La Ricura, Ltd. in February 12, 2020. Reason: Possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).. Check the official notice for the remedy. Verify recall #F-0598-2020 with the FDA Food before acting.

The recall

Quesos La Ricura, Ltd. issued this critical-severity FDA Food recall — Possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)..

Critical
severity level
640 units
affected scope
Class I
classification
February 12, 2020
reported

Sourced from official FDA Food enforcement records. Verify recall #F-0598-2020 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This FDA Food action (record #F-0598-2020) was formally reported on February 12, 2020, with the manufacturer initiating the action on January 24, 2020. It is classified under Critical severity (Class I), with a current status of Terminated. Quesos La Ricura, Ltd. is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Hicksville, NY. Federal records list the affected scope as 640 units.

The documented reason for this recall is: Possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: NY, FL, NC, GA, PA. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.

Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls, 6 from FDA Food — clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.

Food recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category — 25,414 food recalls on record

-1,00001,0002,0003,000 20052008201120142017202020232026 436

Where this recall sits in the database

Severity2366872097High severity (most serious)Moderate severityLow severity
Where this recall sits in the database

Of 100,165 recalls in the database, 23,668 are high severity, 72,097 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified high severity.

Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger — we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.

Severity

Critical

Affected scope

640 units

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product description

QUESOS LA RICURA brand Queso Cotija; Cotija Cheese; AGED OVER 60 DAYS; Ingredients: Raw Milk, Salt, Enzyme and Cultures; KEEP REFRIGERATED/MANTENER REFRIGERADO; NET WT/PESO NETO 12 OZ. (340g); Plant No/Numero de Planta 36-1256; PRODUCT OF NICARAGUA

Reason for recall

Possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the FDA Food recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Severity class Critical (Class I)
Status Terminated
Recall number F-0598-2020
Date reported February 12, 2020
Date initiated January 24, 2020
Recalling firm Quesos La Ricura, Ltd.
Firm location Hicksville, NY
Affected scope 640 units
Distribution NY, FL, NC, GA, PA

Profile values are sourced directly from the official FDA Food enforcement record. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Scale of Impact

640 units units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units) ✓ This recall
Multi-state (10K – 100K units)
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units)

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration filings.

What to do with this recall

Match your product against the recall record, then act on the agency remedy.

  • Check the recall number (F-0598-2020) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
  • Confirm the current status with FDA Food before acting — recall details can be updated.
  • This is a Class I (high-risk) recall — stop using the product immediately and follow the disposal or return instructions. What to do next

This page summarizes the official FDA Food record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
QUESOS LA RICURA brand Queso Cotija; Cotija Cheese; AGED OVER 60 DAYS; Ingredients: Raw Milk, Salt, Enzyme and Cultures; KEEP REFRIGERATED/MANTENER REFRIGERADO; NET WT/PESO NETO 12 OZ. (340g); Plant No/Numero de Planta 36-1256; PRODUCT OF NICARAGUA. Recalled by Quesos La Ricura, Ltd.. Units affected: 640 units.
Why was this product recalled?
Possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the FDA Food on February 12, 2020. Severity: Critical. Recall number: F-0598-2020.
Where was the recalled product distributed?
Distribution: NY, FL, NC, GA, PA.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (F-0598-2020) against your product. Visit the official FDA Food website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
What are the health risks of consuming a recalled food product?
Recalled food products may contain contaminants, undeclared allergens, or harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli. Consuming these products can cause foodborne illness ranging from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to serious conditions requiring hospitalization. If you have consumed a recalled food product and experience symptoms, contact your healthcare provider and report to the FDA via MedWatch.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

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Data Sources

Source: FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA federal recall databases. This recall: FDA Food, reported February 12, 2020.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records — no number is typed in by an editor. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.