Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland, expanded its recall on June 18, 2026, to cover every cheese product it manufactures, after a listeria outbreak linked to the company has caused nine illnesses, eight hospitalizations, and one death.
The expanded recall follows an earlier, narrower pullback of the company's requesón and soft ricotta products. The company cited potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination as the reason for broadening the recall to its entire product line; the bacterium poses a particular danger to older adults, pregnant people, young children, and immunocompromised individuals, in whom it can produce life-threatening illness.
The recall covers a wide range of products, including soft cuajada in brine, ricotta, fresh cheddar curd, flavored cheeses such as horseradish and Old Bay cheddar, smoked cheddar, pepper jack varieties, and multiple snack pack formats. Products are sold at the company's retail market, at farmers markets, and through third-party distributors in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C. Retailers may have sold certain items under alternative labels, among them KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, and RIO LINDO. To determine whether a product is subject to the recall, the FDA recommends checking packaging for the manufacturer permit number "24-128."
The outbreak was traced to Clover Hill Dairy's requesón after two family members in Brentwood, New York, fell ill in May 2026. Investigators found Listeria monocytogenes in repackaged requesón at a local retailer and in a sealed, 18-pound bucket of the cheese from Clover Hill Dairy. The CDC and FDA have confirmed the bacteria in the cheese samples match the outbreak strain. The investigation spans illnesses collected between March 2023 and May 2026, across Maryland, New York, and Virginia.
According to the Maryland Department of Health, the death linked to the outbreak occurred in Maryland in 2023. The FDA said its investigation remains ongoing and additional products could still be implicated.
Regulators are urging anyone who has purchased Clover Hill Dairy cheese to keep it out of the food supply entirely — neither consuming it nor offering it for sale or service. Disposal or a return trip to the retailer for a refund are the two options available to consumers holding recalled product. Because Listeria monocytogenes remains viable at cold storage temperatures and can cross-contaminate nearby foods, any refrigerator shelves, drawers, cutting boards, or other items that touched the cheese should be washed and disinfected. Those experiencing symptoms of listeriosis should contact a healthcare provider.
The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission is handling consumer inquiries for Clover Hill Dairy; the callback number is 240-528-8850, ext. 327.