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Clover Hill Dairy Recalls Soft Ricotta Cheese Amid Multistate Listeria Outbreak Linked to 8 Infections
MECHANICSVILLE, Md. – June 9, 2026 – Clover Hill Dairy has issued a voluntary recall of all its Soft Ricotta/Requeson Cheese after the product was potentially linked to eight cases of Listeria monocytogenes infections, the company announced Tuesday.
The recall, conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), affects cheese distributed between May 4, 2026, and May 30, 2026, across six jurisdictions: North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. The product was sold through bulk distributors, retail stores, and directly to consumers.
According to the company, eight cases of Listeria infections may have been linked to the cheese, as published by the FDA in coordination with MDH. Clover Hill Dairy was made aware of the potential public health risk by the Maryland Department of Health and has since ceased production and distribution of all cheese products while investigations continue.
The recalled Soft Ricotta/Requeson cheese was sold in retail clamshell containers weighing ten, twelve, and fourteen ounces. Consumers can identify Clover Hill Dairy-branded products by looking for the plant number 24-128 on the product label.
The cheese was also sold in bulk five-gallon and two-gallon buckets to some customers who repackaged the product. Those bulk containers may be repackaged under individual distributor brand names, including but not limited to KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, and RIO LINDO.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and individuals with weakened immune systems. While healthy individuals may experience short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, Listeria infection can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled cheese are urged to return it to the place of purchase in its original packaging for a full refund.
Clover Hill Dairy board and staff members issued an apology for the inconvenience and hardships caused by the recall, stating they hope to correct the problem as soon as safely possible and look forward to serving customers again in the near future.
Consumers with questions may contact the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission on behalf of Clover Hill Dairy at 240-528-8850 extension 327.
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