Additional cases have been identified in a fatal case of listeria infection caused by cheese made by Clover Hill Dairy LLC in Mechanicsville, Maryland.
As of June 24, there are 12 patients. Ten people required hospitalization and one person died, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Nine out of 10 people interviewed reported eating cheese before becoming ill. Two people reported requests for meals from Clover Hill Dairy. The sick people live in Maryland, New York and Virginia.
Samples from sick people were collected from March 6, 2023, to June 2, 2026. Whole genome sequencing showed that the patients were sickened by the same strain of Listeria monocytogenes. The same strain was also found in Clover Hill Dairy cheese.
As a result of the outbreak investigation, Cloverhill recalled all cheese products. The recall now includes:
- Soft and semi-soft “Spanish-style cheese varieties”: cuajada, soft cuajada, soft cuajada in brine, soft cuajada crumbs, ricotta/requesson, soft ricotta with jalapeño (Requeson Con Chile)
- Mild Cheese Varieties: Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, Monterey Jack, Marble Jack, Fresh Cheddar Curd, Snack Pack – Assorted (White Colby, Marble Jack, Yummy Cheddar) and 3-in-A-Pack – Assorted (White Colby, Marble Jack, Yummy Cheddar).
- Hard Cheese Varieties: Delicious Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, Snack Pack Sharp Sticks
- Smoked Cheddar Cheese Varieties: Cheddar Cheese and White Cheddar Cheese
- Flavored Cheese: Horseradish and Old Bay Cheddar
- Assorted Pepper Cheeses: Jalapeno Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Sizzlin’ Colby (with Habanero Peppers), Snack Pack – Assorted Pepper Sticks (Jalapeño Cheddar and Pepper Jack), 3-in-A-Pack – Assorted (Jalapeño Cheddar, Pepper Jack and Sizzlin’ Colby)
- Smoked Pepper Cheese Variety: Jalapeno Cheddar
Clover Hill Cheese may have been relabeled upon distribution under other brand names, including but not limited to KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO and RIO LINDO.
Cloverhill Dairy Cheese distributors have also initiated a recall. On June 5, Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC of Bay Shore, New York, initiated a recall of one-pound packages of Requeston Cheese in clear plastic clamshell containers to retailers in New York from May 15 to May 28, 2026. The recalled cheese has likely been repackaged at retail stores, and the labeling or coding of the recalled cheese may vary depending on where it was purchased.
The recalled Cloverhill cheese was distributed directly to consumers through mass distributors and retailers from May 4 to May 30 in states including North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.
Nelson & Isa Lacteos requested product sold in New York retail stores from May 15 to May 28, 2026.
As part of this investigation, the FDA and state partners collected and analyzed samples. To date, six product samples from Riqueson Cheese have tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and matched the outbreak strain. Additionally, an environmental sample collected by Maryland investigators tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and was consistent with the outbreak strain.
It can take up to 10 weeks after exposure for listeria infection symptoms to appear. Therefore, people who eat Cloverhill cheese should monitor themselves for fever, muscle pain, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, or diarrhea. If more severe forms of listeriosis develop, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Other outbreak news
When Salmonella Infection Occurs The number of patients increased from 68 to 70 due to Enteritidis related to an as yet unidentified product. The patient’s age was not reported. Likewise, the FDA did not report where patients lived. The FDA first reported the outbreak on June 10. The FDA has begun a tracking effort but has not said which foods it is tracking.
