Urgent recall issued for cheese sold in five states after multiple people are sickened with deadly bacteria
A recall has been issued for cheese products sold in multiple states after at least eight people have gotten sick from the same strain of a deadly bacteria. Maryland-based Clover Hill Dairy is voluntarily recalling all Soft Ricotta/Requeson Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which causes the potentially life-threatening illness listeriosis. The products were sold to bulk distributors, in retail locations and directly to consumers in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, DC. They were distributed from May 4 to May 30, 2026. The people who have fallen ill are in Maryland, New York and Virginia. The Maryland Department of Health has suspended Clover Hill Dairy's operating license and is evaluating the facility. Additionally, the CDC and FDA are working to identify if any other products are linked to the outbreak. The soft cheeses were sold in ten-, 12- and 14-ounce individually packaged clamshell containers. Maryland-based Clover Hill Dairy is voluntarily recalling all Soft Ricotta/Requeson Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
They were also sold in bulk five-gallon and two-gallon buckets. These bulk sales may have then been repackaged and distributed under other brand names, including but not limited to: Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco De Mi Pueblo and Rio Lindo. The FDA said Clover Hill Dairy has been made aware of the 'potential public food health risk' and has stopped production and distribution of all cheese products. The FDA is urging customers who have purchased the products to return to the place of purchase for a full refund. Customers should also thoroughly wash surfaces that have come into contact with the recalled products. While most of the 1,250 Americans infected with listeria each year recover on their own, the FDA warns that the infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.About 250 Americans die of the infection each year. Listeria can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive refrigeration and other food preservation measures.Many foods can harbor the bug, but it is usually found in unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses and ready-to-eat foods, such as pre-packed sandwiches. The soft cheeses were sold in ten-, 12- and 14-ounce individually packaged clamshell containersCooked shellfish, cured meats and fish, including sushi and pre-cut fruit, are also a risk.Symptoms include fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Most people who eat food contaminated with listeria will not become seriously ill, but in some cases, it can cause confusion and seizures and even death. Along with young kids and pregnant women, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are especially at risk. Severe infection and deaths can happen when the bacteria spreads beyond the gut and affects the central nervous system.
