Listeria outbreak tied to soft cheese kills 1, sickens others across Virginia, several other states, FDA says

(NewsNation) – A Maryland dairy has recalled all of its requesón/soft ricotta cheese after federal health officials linked the product to a Listeria outbreak that has killed one person and hospitalized eight others across three states. An FDA investigation is ongoing.

Clover Hill Dairy, based in Mechanicsville, Maryland, issued a voluntary recall June 3 for all of the requeson and soft ricotta products it makes.

The recalled products were distributed to retailers in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, DC. The FDA said the cheese may be sold under different brand names, so consumers should check the manufacturer permit number on the package. Look for “24-128” to identify a Clover Hill product.

Nine people have been infected with the same strain of Listeria across Maryland, New York and Virginia, with illness onset dates spanning March 2023 through May 2026, according to the FDA investigation. One person in Maryland has died.

An investigation into the outbreak revealed that two of seven people interviewed by the FDA specifically reported eating requesón from Clover Hill Dairy.

That investigation began after two people from the same family in New York fell ill in May. Both had bought requesón from a local retailer, and lab testing confirmed the Listeria strain in the cheese matched the strain making people sick.

Further testing traced the cheese back to Clover Hill Dairy, and an unopened 18-pound bucket of the company’s requeson also tested positive.

The Maryland Department of Health has suspended Clover Hill Dairy’s operating license. The FDA said its investigation is ongoing and additional products may be recalled.

Anyone who has the cheese at home should throw it away and thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces it touched. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and spread to other foods.

People at highest risk of severe illness include pregnant women, adults 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can appear anywhere from the same day to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food and may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, headache and stiff neck. Those experiencing symptoms should contact a healthcare provider.