CLASS I Food recall · Reported 31 Mar 2021 · FDA Enforcement Report

Quesillo sold under the following brands recalled by El Abuelito Cheese

El Abuelito Cheese is recalling Quesillo sold under the following brands and container sizes: El Abuelito Cheese Quesillo, distributed in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania. The recall was initiated on 17 Feb 2021 and the FDA has classified it as Class I.

Check your package

Lot, batch or date codesSell by dates through 041621

Quantity recalledN/A

Do not eat it. Return it to the store for a refund or throw it away. If you have symptoms after eating it, contact a doctor.

Recall details

Recall number: F-0347-2021
FDA event ID: 87369
Recalling firm: El Abuelito Cheese, Paterson, NJ
Brand: Quesillo
Classification: Class I
Status: Terminated
Recall initiated: 17 Feb 2021
FDA classified: 19 Mar 2021
Reported: 31 Mar 2021
Type: Voluntary: Firm initiated
Customers notified by: Two or more of the following: Email, Fax, Letter, Press Release, Telephone, Visit
Reason category: Listeria
Product category: Cheese

Timeline

17 Feb 2021	Recall initiated by company
19 Mar 2021	Classified by FDA	+30 days
31 Mar 2021	Published in enforcement report	+12 days

Companies usually start a recall weeks before the FDA classifies and publishes it; the gap above is that lag.

Reason for recall

Product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes can grow at refrigerator temperatures. Infection is most dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can appear up to 70 days after eating contaminated food.

Product as listed by the FDA

Quesillo sold under the following brands and container sizes: El Abuelito Cheese Quesillo Abuelito 12oz Vacuum Pack 673130200000 Quesillo Abuelito 5Lbs Vacuum Bag Loose Bag 673130500001 Quesillo Abuelito 10Lbs Vacuum Bag Loose Bag 673130600008 El Viejito El Viejito 10Lbs Vacuum Bag Loose Bag 718122180950 El Paisano El Paisano 5Lbs Vacuum Bag 799456415468 El Paisano 10Lbs Vacuum Bag 799456415482 El Sabrosito El Sabrosito 10Lbs Vacuum Bag 749390337586 La Cima La Cima 5Lbs Vacuum Bag 072632891653 Quesos Finos Quesos Finos 5Lbs Vacuum Bag 851800004145 San Carlos San Carlos 14Lbs Loose Bag 814920000039 Ideal Ideal 5Lbs Vacuum Bag 610563082674 Ideal 10Lbs Vacuum Bag 897930001951

Where it was distributed

The product has been distributed in the following States: PA, NY, NJ, CT,DE, MA

Connecticut Delaware Massachusetts New Jersey New York Pennsylvania

Questions about this recall

Why was it recalled?

Product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Which lots are affected?

Sell by dates through 041621

Where was it sold?

The product has been distributed in the following States: PA, NY, NJ, CT,DE, MA

What should I do if I have it?

Do not eat it. Return it to the store for a refund or throw it away. If you have symptoms after eating it, contact a doctor.

What does Class I mean?

Class I is the most serious FDA recall category: there is a reasonable probability that using the product will cause serious health consequences or death.

Read the official FDA notice · Source record retrieved 26 Sep 2026. The FDA describes openFDA data as unvalidated; the official notice takes precedence. This page reports the record and gives no medical advice.

Other products in this recall event

2 other products · FDA event 87369

This product is part of a recall event; the main page for the event is Quseo Fresco sold under the following brands recalled.

Reported	Class	Recall	Company	Reason	Where
31 Mar 2021	CLASS I	Quseo Fresco sold under the following brands recalledQuseo Fresco	El Abuelito Cheese	Listeria	6 states
31 Mar 2021	CLASS I	Requeson/Ricotta, sold under the following brands recalledRequeson	El Abuelito Cheese	Listeria	6 states

More recalls from El Abuelito Cheese

All 3

Reported	Class	Recall	Company	Reason	Where
31 Mar 2021Food	CLASS I	Requeson/Ricotta, sold under the following brands recalledRequeson	El Abuelito Cheese	Listeria	6 states
31 Mar 2021Food	CLASS I	Quseo Fresco sold under the following brands recalledQuseo Fresco	El Abuelito Cheese	Listeria	6 states

Other Cheese recalls

All 1,121

Reported	Class	Recall	Company	Reason	Where
30 Sep 2026Food	CLASS II	Pecorino Toscano D.O.P. Stagionato cheese wheels recalledPecorino Toscano	Elegant Foods	Listeria	WI
29 Sep 2026Food	ANNOUNCED	Sierra Nevada Graziers Monterey Jack, Jalapeno Jack recalledSierra Nevada Graziers	Sierra Nevada Cheese	E. coli	Nationwide
23 Sep 2026Food	CLASS I	Mon Sire Brie, soft-ripened French cheese recalled by OptimusMon Sire	Optimus	Listeria	FL
23 Sep 2026Food	CLASS I	NatureBest Mild Cheddar & Jalapeno Stuffed Mushrooms Heb SI recalledNatureBest	NatureBest Pre-Cut & Produce	Salmonella	LA, TX
11 Sep 2026Food	ANNOUNCED	Whole Foods Market Cheese recalledWhole Foods Market	Whole Foods Market	Undeclared Egg	7 states