The FDA and CDC have expanded a “do not eat” list tied to a multistate listeria outbreak. As of June 24, 12 people across four states were confirmed sick, 10 hospitalized and one person died in Maryland. The latest update adds additional Mexican cheese product
By Sunday, June 26, the “do not eat” list for recalled cheese was growing again—after the first public warning on Thursday, June 4, when eight people had become sick across three states.
The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially issued an investigation notice and public health advisory on June 4 after those first illnesses. Since then. the number of confirmed cases has remained high: as of June 24. 10 of the 12 total people confirmed to be sick across four states were hospitalized.
The harsh part of this outbreak is also what’s hardest to measure. Experts say most people who contract listeria poisoning recover at home without aid, which means the documented, confirmed cases are likely only a fraction of the total number of illnesses.
That reality is one reason the guidance has stayed firm—stop eating the product, throw it away or return it to where it was purchased—and why the latest update matters for shoppers who may have already brought these cheeses into their kitchens.
A fresh update issued Sunday, June 26 added new items to the “do not eat” list, including several types of Mexican cheese sold in several states.
The latest additions name La Ceiba Foods Latin Market Inc.
The newest recall update added cheeses made by La Ceiba Foods Latin Market Inc. that were sold between May 11 and June 1 in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
The added products include:
— 14-ounce La Colonia-brand Salvadoreno Requeson, Soft Ricotta Cheese. UPC: 736846383099, expiration date 07/10/2026. — 16-ounce Selectos Latinos-brand Requeson Salvadoreno, Ricotta Style Salvadorean Style Cheese. UPC: 767787984526, expiration date 07/10/2026. — 16-ounce Selectos Latinos-brand Requeson Mexicano, Mexican Cottage Cheese. UPC: 767787984519, expiration date 07/10/2026. — 18-pound Clover Hill-brand Buket of Requeson, expiration date 07/10/2026.
A much wider set of cheeses has already been flagged
This newest batch follows a broader recall tied to Clover Hill Dairy, which previously issued a recall that was later expanded to include its soft cheeses.
Those soft cheeses were sold both directly by Clover Hill and third-party distributors in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.
The same cheeses may also appear under different brand names when distributed, including (but not limited to) Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo and Rio Lindo.
Consumers are also advised to check labels for the Clover Hill Dairy manufacturer permit (or plant) number. When available, it should appear as “24-128.”
The recalled products include soft Cuajada items, ricotta and a wide range of mild, sharp, flavored, pepper jack, and smoked cheddar varieties—sold in formats ranging from 1/2-pound and 1-pound packages to snack packs and large container sizes such as 40-pound containers.
The list provided by regulators includes the following recalled categories and formats:
— Soft Cuajada in Brine, 5-gallon bucket, 2-gallon bucket. — Soft Cuajada, 5-pound bags, 2.5-pound clamshell, 14-ounce clamshell. — Cuajada, 30-pound boxes. — Ricotta 5-gallon bucket, 2-gallon bucket, 2.5-pound tubs, 1-pound clamshell. — Soft Cuajada Crumbs. — Mild Cheese Varieties (Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, Monterey Jack, Marble Jack), 1/2-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound, 5-pound, 40-pound containers. — Mild Cheese Varieties – Snack Pack Assorted Regular Mild Stix (White Colby, Marble Jack, Yummy Cheddar), 6.4-ounce. —
Mild Cheese Varieties – 3-in-A-Pack Assorted (White Colby, Marble Jack, Yummy Cheddar), 3.2-ounce. — Mild Cheese Varieties – Fresh Cheddar Curd, 0.75-pound box, 1.50-pound box. — Sharp Cheese Varieties (Cheddar, Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, Monterey Jack), 1/2-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound, 5-pound. — Sharp Cheese Snack Pack Sharp Stix (White or Yellow Regular Size), 6.4-ounce. — Flavored Cheese – Horseradish, 1/2-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound, 5-pound, 40-pound. — Flavored Cheese – Old Bay Cheddar, 1/2-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound, 5-pound, 40-pound.
— Pepper Jack Cheese Varieties (Jalapeno Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Sizzlin Colby with Habanero Peppers), 1/2-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound, 5-pound, 40-pound. — Pepper Jack Cheese Varieties – Snack Pack Assorted Pepperjack Stix (Jalapeno Cheddar, Pepper Jack), 6.4-ounce. — Pepper Jack Cheese Varieties – 3-in-a-Pack Assorted (Jalapeno Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Sizzlin Colby), 3.2-ounce. — Smoked Cheddar Cheese Varieties (Cheddar, White Cheddar), 1/2-pound, 1-pound. — Smoked Pepper Cheese Varieties (Jalapeno Cheddar), 1/2-pound pieces, 1-pound pieces.
Where the illnesses have been documented
Currently, recalled cheese has made 12 people ill across four states, according to the CDC.
Of those 12 cases, 10 people were hospitalized, and one person died in Maryland.
The states with confirmed cases are listed as follows:
— Illinois (1 case)
— Maryland (3 cases)
— New York (5 cases)
— Virginia (3 cases)
Earlier warning, later confirmation
When the investigation notice and public health advisory were first issued on June 4, eight people became sick across three states. Since then, as of June 24, 10 of the 12 total confirmed cases across four states ended up requiring hospital care.
That sequence matters because it shows how fast the outbreak moved from initial detection to serious outcomes—while also reinforcing why regulators stress that households may not be seeing the full picture.
The CDC and FDA also warn that the number of sick could be much higher than what’s reported, because many people recover at home without medical care.
What to do if you have recalled cheese
Regulators are clear: do not eat any recalled cheese.
The CDC recommends throwing it away or returning it to where it was purchased.
People at higher risk—those who may have had contaminated cheese in the home and businesses that may have had the cheese—are advised to take additional precautions. including cleaning refrigerators. containers. and surfaces that may have touched the recalled cheese. The guidance is to wash surfaces with warm. soapy water before sanitizing them with a solution mix of 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water.
Hand hygiene is also part of the prevention steps. People are urged to wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food and/or possibly contaminated surfaces.
Anyone who feels ill after eating potentially contaminated food should call a healthcare provider right away.
What listeria poisoning can look like
Listeria poisoning is a foodborne bacterial infection caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes, the CDC says. It is considered serious and can be dangerous or life-threatening—especially for adults over 65, people with weak immune systems, and pregnant women.
Symptoms usually start within two weeks after eating contaminated food, but can begin as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after.
The CDC lists symptoms that include:
— Fever
— Muscle aches
— Headache
— Stiff neck
— Confusion
— Loss of balance
— Convulsions
— Diarrhea
— Other gastrointestinal symptoms
— Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and/or life-threatening infection of newborn infants
— Death
People in higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months of consuming contaminated food should seek medical attention.
For many families, the decision is immediate: check what’s in the fridge, confirm whether it matches the recalled products, and act fast if it does. With 10 of 12 confirmed patients hospitalized and a death reported in Maryland, the urgency is no longer abstract.
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