Soft Ricotta Requeson Recall Triggers Multi‑State Listeria Outbreak Alerts

soft ricotta requeson recall sparks nationwide health alert

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a soft ricotta requeson recall after a lethal Listeria monocytogenes strain was traced to products from Clover Hill Dairy in Mechanicsville, Maryland. Nine confirmed cases, ↓ 8 hospitalizations and ↓ 1 death span three states, according to the CDC.

Products pulled from shelves

Recall notices list individual clamshell containers of 10 oz, 12 oz and 14 oz bearing a “Clover Hill Dairy Cheese” label and plant code 24‑128. Bulk formats include five‑gallon and two‑gallon buckets, some re‑branded under Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo and Rio Lindo. A secondary distributor, Nelson & Isa Lacteos, withdrew 1‑lb clamshells, some flavored with jalapeño.

Geographic reach

Distribution ran from May 4 to May 30, 2026 across Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, DC. Nelson & Isa Lacteos sales were confined to New York between May 15 and May 28, 2026.

What consumers should do

Do not consume the cheese. Discard it or return it for a refund. The FDA advises thorough cleaning of any surfaces or containers that contacted the product. Restaurants and retailers must sanitize equipment immediately.

“Our investigation links the outbreak to requeson cheese sold in multiple states,” said a spokesperson for the Reuters-cited CDC team.

Symptoms to watch for

Typical Listeria signs include abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, high fever, nausea and neck stiffness. Pregnant people may experience fatigue, fever, muscle aches and face heightened risks of miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth. Older adults and immunocompromised individuals are also vulnerable.

Health officials recommend that at‑risk groups avoid all queso fresco‑type cheeses, including soft ricotta and requeson, until the recall is fully resolved.

Words by Elena Rostova (Socio-Economic Trends Analyst).