Federal health officials are warning consumers in New York, Virginia, Maryland, and the greater Mid-Atlantic region to check their refrigerators immediately. A multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to requesón and soft ricotta cheese made by Clover Hill Dairy LLC has killed one person and sent seven others to the hospital, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on June 5, 2026.

A total of nine people have now been confirmed ill across Maryland, New York, and Virginia. The most alarming detail: illness samples were collected as far back as March 2023, meaning this outbreak may have been active — and undetected — for more than three years before a formal recall was issued.

The Recall and What Products Are Affected

On June 3, 2026, Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland, issued a voluntary recall of its requesón and soft ricotta cheese products sold through its retail market, farmers markets, and distributors operating in New York and Virginia.

Two days later, on June 5, a New York-based distributor — Nelson & Isa Lacteos, LLC of Bay Shore, New York — announced a separate recall of 1-pound packages of requesón cheese sold in clear plastic clamshell containers to retail locations in New York from May 15 to May 28, 2026.

The Maryland Department of Health has suspended Clover Hill Dairy's operating license and is conducting a follow-up evaluation of the facility in cooperation with the dairy.

Recalled cheese was sold in states including Maryland, New York, Virginia, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Washington D.C. The FDA notes that recalled products may have been relabeled or repacked prior to sale, meaning the branding, labeling, and coding may vary depending on where the product was purchased.

The FDA has initiated traceback investigations and onsite inspections and is working to determine whether additional products are connected to the outbreak.

A Three-Year Timeline Raises Questions

The Food Safety Magazine reported that clinical illness samples were collected between March 6, 2023, and May 10, 2026. Of the patients interviewed, five reported eating cheese, and two specifically identified Clover Hill Dairy-brand cheese as part of their diet.

The length of time between the earliest identified illness and the issuance of a public recall raises legitimate public health questions about how long contaminated product may have circulated in the food supply — and how many additional illnesses may have gone undetected or were never linked to this outbreak.

Listeria cases are significantly underreported, as the CDC acknowledges. Most people who develop mild infections do not seek medical care and are never tested. The agency cautions that the actual number of Listeria infections may be considerably higher than the nine confirmed cases.

Who Is Most at Risk and What to Do Now

Listeria is particularly dangerous for three groups: pregnant women, adults aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. For pregnant women, infection can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or life-threatening infection in newborns.

The CDC warns that Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and can spread from contaminated cheese to other foods and surfaces.

If you have purchased requesón or soft ricotta cheese recently in the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast regions, the CDC recommends the following steps:

  • Do not eat the recalled product. Throw it away or return it to the store.
  • Clean and sanitize any surface or container that may have come into contact with the recalled cheese using hot soapy water.
  • Wash the interior of your refrigerator thoroughly.
  • Seek medical care immediately if you experience fever, muscle aches, severe headache, stiff neck, or confusion — especially if you are pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised.

Symptoms of invasive listeriosis typically appear within one to four weeks of eating contaminated food, though they can develop anywhere from the same day to ten weeks after exposure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What cheese is being recalled in the Listeria outbreak?

A: Requesón and soft ricotta cheese manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy LLC of Mechanicsville, Maryland, has been recalled, along with requesón distributed by Nelson & Isa Lacteos, LLC of Bay Shore, New York.

Q: Who has died in this outbreak?

A: One person in Maryland has died. Seven others across Maryland, New York, and Virginia have been hospitalized.

Q: How do I know if my cheese is part of the recall?

A: The recall covers products sold at Clover Hill Dairy's retail market, farmers markets, and through distributors in New York and Virginia. Because products may have been relabeled, check the FDA's recall notice for full details on how to identify affected packaging.

Q: What are Listeria symptoms?

A: Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, severe headache, nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea. In serious cases, symptoms include stiff neck and confusion.

Q: Can soft cheese be safe to eat?

A: The CDC notes that soft cheeses, even pasteurized ones, carry a higher risk of Listeria. High-risk individuals — pregnant women, those over 65, and immunocompromised individuals — should avoid soft, fresh cheeses.