The Ministry of Health has issued a warning regarding the presence of high concentrations of Staphylococcus aureus in a specific batch of semi-hard fresh cheese for frying, marketed under the brand Quesos del Norte Las Cuatro A. The affected product is from lot 1251 and carries the sanitary registration number A-CR-21-00747.
Microbiological tests conducted by the National Reference Center for Food Microbiological Safety at the Costa Rican Institute for Research and Teaching in Nutrition and Health (CRIMA-INCIENSA) confirmed that this batch tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus. This finding means the product does not meet the standards set by the Central American Technical Regulation on Microbiological Criteria for Food Safety RTCA 67.04.50:17, specifically for subgroup 1.9, which covers fresh cheeses, non-matured cheeses, cottage cheese, mixtures with vegetable oils or fats, or similar products.
The contamination was detected through routine sampling in supermarkets across the country as part of ongoing food safety controls by the Ministry of Health to ensure compliance with current regulations.
Authorities are coordinating with both the manufacturer and the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) to remove the contaminated batch from stores.
The Ministry recommends that consumers avoid purchasing or consuming this specific batch, especially children, older adults, or people with weakened immune systems. Anyone who has purchased this cheese should dispose of it or return it to where it was bought.
Consumers who experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, or weakness after eating this product are advised to consult a doctor and inform them about their consumption. They can also notify the Ministry of Health via email.
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