Photo: FDA
A deadly listeria outbreak linked to cheese made by Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland, has resulted in one death and eight hospitalizations across three states, according to federal health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that as of June 9, nine people have fallen ill after eating soft ricotta and requesón cheese products distributed by the dairy.
Clover Hill Dairy has recalled all of its cheese varieties, not just soft ricotta, due to potential contamination with listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that causes the serious illness listeriosis. The outbreak has affected residents in Maryland, New York, and Virginia, with the most recent case identified in New York. The Maryland Department of Health has suspended the company’s operating license and issued a public health advisory, urging consumers not to eat, serve, or sell any recalled cheese. Products may have been sold at the dairy’s own market, farmers’ markets, and through third-party distributors in Maryland, New York, Virginia, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., and may even have been repackaged or relabeled under other brands, such as Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo, and Rio Lindo.
Of those sickened, three each lived in Maryland, New York, and Virginia. Eight of the nine patients were hospitalized, and the one fatality occurred in Maryland.
Investigators used genetic testing to connect the outbreak strain to unopened buckets of Clover Hill Dairy cheese, providing strong evidence that contamination occurred at the manufacturing level. The CDC warns that the actual number of cases could be higher, as listeriosis can take up to 70 days to develop and many illnesses may go unreported. Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, and, in severe cases, complications like meningitis or sepsis. Pregnant women, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk.
Consumers are urged to look for the manufacturer permit number 24-128 on cheese packaging to identify potentially contaminated products. The recall covers all Clover Hill Dairy cheeses produced between May 4 and May 30, 2026, including soft and semi-soft “Spanish Style” cheeses, mild and hard cheese varieties, smoked cheddar, flavored cheeses, and pepper cheese.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is continuing its investigation to determine whether additional products or companies are involved in the outbreak. Officials advise anyone who consumed recalled cheese products to monitor for symptoms for up to ten weeks and seek medical care if they become ill. Additional illnesses may still be identified as the investigation continues.