Nobody wants to see cotija expire prematurely. Proper storage is key, and refrigeration alone isn't sufficient once opened.

Ultimately, investigators linked the illness to cheese and a production facility where queso fresco and cotija are made by Rizo-López Foods. The food maker formally announced a recall on Monday.

A block and a pile of shredded cotija cheese - Marcos Castillo/Shutterstock I started shopping at Aldi when I took a pay cut, and now it's my go-to store. Here are 9 of my favorite items right now.