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Soft Cheeses Recalled Due to Listeria Outbreak

Multiple states report illnesses and one death

AARP

Reviewed by

Aaron Kassraie

Published June 16, 2026

Soft white ricotta cheese inside a transparent plastic clamshell container, set against a bright blue gradient background.

AARP (Getty Images)

Key takeaways

A multistate listeria outbreak linked to soft cheese has sickened nine people, with eight hospitalizations and one death.
Clover Hill Dairy recalled all of its cheese products, including requesón, in five states and Washington, D.C. Some items are sold under other brand names.
Health officials urge consumers to discard recalled cheese and clean surfaces because listeria can spread in refrigerators.

A multistate listeria outbreak linked to soft cheese has prompted recalls of products from Clover Hill Dairy and other brands that repackaged Clover Hill’s products.

As of June 15, at least nine infections were confirmed across three states, including eight hospitalizations and one death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Which cheeses are recalled?

Clover Hill Dairy, based in Mechanicsville, Maryland, initially recalled its requesón, or soft ricotta, cheeses, but recently expanded the recall to include all of its cheese products due to possible listeria contamination.

The cheeses were sold from the company’s retail market, at farmers markets and through other distributors in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Products may also have been relabeled under other brand names, including Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo and Rio Lindo.

Consumers are urged to check package information when available; labels may identify Clover Hill Dairy with the manufacturer permit number 24-128.

The recalled Clover Hill cheeses include requesón, or soft ricotta, along with many other varieties, including cuajada, , cheddar, white cheddar, white Colby, Monterey Jack, marble jack, pepper jack, and flavored cheeses such as horseradish and Old Bay cheddar.

Separately, Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC of Bayshore, New York, recalled 1-pound packages of requesón cheese sold in plastic clamshell containers at retail locations in New York from May 15 to May 28, 2026. A list of select retail locations that sold the affected cheeses can be found here.

The FDA said the recalled Clover Hill Dairy requesón cheese was likely repackaged at retail stores, so labeling or coding may vary depending on where it was purchased.

The investigation to determine the source of contamination and whether additional cheeses are linked to the outbreak is ongoing.

Advice to consumers

Anyone who has the recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese or recalled Nelson & Isa Lacteos requesón cheese procducts should not eat them. Instead, throw the products away or return them to the store where they were purchased.

Anyone who had the contaminated cheese in their home should also clean refrigerators, containers and any surfaces that may have come into contact with the cheese. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and can spread easily to other foods and surfaces.

Questions about the Nelson & Isa Lacteos recall can be directed to the company at 631-334-1055.

Symptoms of a listeria infection

Listeriosis, the infection caused by consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, is especially dangerous for people 65 and older, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems. It can also cause serious illness in newborns.

For pregnant women, symptoms may include fever, muscle aches and tiredness.The infection can lead to pregnancy loss, premature birth or life-threatening illness in a newborn.

Other people may experience headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, fever, muscle aches or fatigue. Some may also have nausea, abdominal pain or diarrhea.

Anyone who develops symptoms after eating recalled cheese should contact a health care provider immediately.

This article used AI tools to compile recall data. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

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