Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville recalled all soft ricotta/requeson cheese after the Maryland Department of Health notified it of Listeria contamination. The FDA and CDC are investigating a multi-year outbreak tied to the product, with nine infections acros
When people opened their refrigerators expecting soft ricotta or requeson, they didn’t expect a health warning tied to a strain of Listeria that has already sickened customers across multiple states.
Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville. Maryland. announced it was recalling all of its soft ricotta/requeson cheese after receiving notification of contamination from the Maryland Department of Health. The recall lands as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigate a “multi-year outbreak” of Listeria with potential links to requeson.
Between March 6, 2023, and May 9, 2026, nine people have been infected with the Listeria strain linked to Clover Hill Dairy’s cheese. Eight people required hospitalization, and there has been one death linked to the outbreak. The CDC map showing where people became ill includes New York. Maryland and Virginia. but the product was sold beyond those states.
The immediate question now for families, restaurants and retailers is not whether the cheese was popular—it was distributed widely—but whether it is still in circulation under the names printed on clamshell labels and bulk containers.
Clover Hill Dairy said the FDA recall notice posted this week covers soft ricotta/requeson cheese in a range of sizes. In individual clamshell containers. the recalled product includes 10 oz. 12 oz and 14 oz items labeled “Clover Hill Dairy Cheese.” Those small containers should have a plant number of 24-128 on them.
The company also recalled cheese sold in bulk containers, including five gallon bucket and two gallon buckets. Some of that cheese may have been repacked with distributor brand names such as Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo, and Rio Lindo.
The recall extends to another distributor, Nelson & Isa Lacteos, based in New York. That company recalled one-pound packages of requeson cheese sold in clamshell containers. The affected Nelson & Isa Lacteos products may also have been sold in flavors such as jalapeño.
The FDA’s recall message places timing and distribution at the center of what consumers need to check. Clover Hill Dairy cheese was initially distributed from May 4. 2026. to May 30. 2026 to retail stores. customers. and bulk distributors in Maryland. New Jersey. New York. North Carolina. Virginia and Washington. D.C.
Nelson & Isa Lacteos requeson products were sold in New York between May 15, 2026 and May 28, 2026.
For anyone holding the recalled cheese, the FDA is blunt: do not eat it. Consumers should either throw it away or bring it back to the place of purchase for a refund.
The agency also warns that kitchens and store shelves may not be the only thing that needs attention. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers who purchased or received recalled cheese—including wholesale products—should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched.
Listeria can be especially dangerous for people who are pregnant, older, or immunocompromised. The FDA lists symptoms that can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, high fever, nausea and stiffness. For pregnant individuals. symptoms might include fatigue. fever. or muscle aches. and they are also at risk of premature delivery. miscarriage. and stillbirth.
Along with pregnant people, Listeria is more likely to seriously affect older adults and people with weakened immune systems. The FDA recommends avoiding “any queso fresco-type cheese, including soft ricotta/requeson” if you fall into one of these categories.
The outbreak’s reach also makes one detail hard to ignore: even though the CDC map shows illnesses in New York. Maryland and Virginia. the product was distributed to additional locations including New Jersey. North Carolina. Virginia and Washington. D.C. That gap between where people got sick and where the cheese was sold is exactly why the recall is broad and why the label—down to container size. plant number and possible distributor names—matters.
If you’re unsure whether the cheese in your home is included, the FDA indicates pictures of the affected products are available, and the practical step is the same either way: check the recalled packaging and don’t take chances with soft cheese that could be tied to this investigation.
Clover Hill Dairy Listeria outbreak soft ricotta requeson recall FDA recall CDC investigation Mechanicsville Maryland dairy Nelson & Isa Lacteos Kesso Quesos La Ricura Izalco De Mi Pueblo Rio Lindo
Soft ricotta just sounds risky now.
Wait so it’s not just Mechanicsville? It says multi-year outbreak and nine infections and one death… I mean why would they let it sit that long. Also I don’t even know what plant number 24-128 looks like.
Isn’t Listeria like from deli meat, not cheese? Maybe it’s the distributors repacking it under other brands or whatever. I swear every time I hear about cheese recalls it’s always “across multiple states” like it magically traveled.
We bought ricotta from a restaurant near us (Virginia) and now I’m like… do I need to check every clamshell label? The article says even beyond NY/MD/VA which is cool, except not cool. The buckets thing confuses me too—like if it was repacked under distributor brand then how would a regular person even know. Honestly I’m done with soft cheeses for a while.