Deadly Clover Hill Dairy Requesón Listeria Outbreak [Updated]

Updated June 24, 2026, with additional illnesses |  By the Pritzker Hageman Food Safety Legal Team

Requesón — a fresh, soft, ricotta-style cheese — made by Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland, is the source of a deadly, multi-year Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in Maryland, New York, and Virginia.

Federal and state health officials have linked 12 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations, and one death to the tainted cheese as of June 24, 2026. Clover Hill has recalled all of its cheeses, and the Maryland Department of Health has suspended the dairy’s operating license.

Because Listeria can cause severe illness, miscarriage, stillbirth, and death, consumers and retailers should not eat, serve, or sell the recalled cheese. If you or a family member became seriously ill after eating requesón or soft ricotta cheese, you may have a legal claim.

What Happened in the Clover Hill Dairy Listeria Outbreak?

Clover Hill Dairy requesón cheese is the source of a three-state Listeria outbreak that has been quietly making people sick for years.

It was March 6, 2023, when the first person who ate contaminated Clover Hill cheese fell ill with symptoms of a Listeria infection. Two and a half years later, two more cases were reported, and then a cluster of illnesses were reported this year.

The 12 confirmed illnesses have been reported from four states: Illinois (1), Maryland (3), New York (3), and Virginia (3). Eight of the nine patients have been hospitalized, and one person in Maryland has died. The most recently confirmed patients were added to the count on June 24, 2026.

Public health interviews show how the source was identified: of the 10 people interviewed, nine said they had eaten some kind of cheese before they became sick. Two of them specifically reported eating requesón cheese made by Clover Hill Dairy. Genetic testing then sealed the link.

Investigators with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets tested requesón that had been repackaged at a store where sick people shopped, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) confirmed the bacteria matched the outbreak strain. Crucially, they then traced the cheese back to its distributor and tested an unopened 18-pound bucket of requesón supplied by Clover Hill Dairy — and that sample also tested positive for the same outbreak strain.

This is a significant development. A positive result from a sealed, unopened bucket supplied by the manufacturer is strong evidence that the contamination originated at the dairy rather than at a retail store.

The Maryland Department of Health has suspended the company’s operating license and issued a consumer advisory.

The Numbers Are Likely an Undercount

The CDC cautions that the true number of people sickened is almost certainly higher than nine, and that the outbreak may not be limited to the three states with known illnesses. Many people who get listeriosis recover without ever being tested, and because Listeria symptoms can appear up to 70 days after exposure, additional illnesses may still emerge.

Demographically, the confirmed patients range in age from 16 to 81 years (median age 55), the majority are women, and 88% identified as Hispanic, which is consistent with requesón being a staple cheese in many Hispanic households.

Which Clover Hill Dairy Products Are Recalled?

All Clover Hill Dairy cheeses have been recalled, including:

Requesón / soft ricotta sold in 10-oz, 12-oz, and 14-oz individually packaged clamshell containers. It also was sold in bulk 2-gallon and 5-gallon buckets to some customers who repackaged the cheese.

Soft and Semi-Soft “Spanish Style” Cheeses

• Cuajada, Soft Cuajada, Soft Cuajada in Brine, Soft Cuajada Crumbs, Ricotta/Requeson, and Soft Ricotta w/ Jalapenos (Requeson Con Chile)

Mild Cheese Varieties

• Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, Monterey Jack, Marble Jack, Fresh Cheddar Curd, Snack Pack – Assorted (White Colby, Marble Jack, and Yummy Cheddar), and 3-in-A-Pack – Assorted (White Colby, Marble Jack, and Yummy Cheddar)

Hard Cheese Varieties

• Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, and Snack Pack Sharp Stix

Smoked Cheddar Cheese Varieties

• Cheddar and White Cheddar

Flavored Cheeses

• Horseradish and Old Bay Cheddar

Pepper Cheese Varieties

• Jalapeño Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Sizzlin’ Colby (with Habanero Peppers), Snack Pack- Assorted Pepper Stix (Jalapeño Cheddar and Pepper Jack), and 3-in-A-Pack – Assorted (Jalapeño Cheddar, Pepper Jack, and Sizzlin Colby)

Smoked Pepper Cheese Varieties

• Jalapeño Cheddar

The label on clamshell containers should identify the Clover Hill Dairy manufacturer permit (or plant) number as “24-128”.  

Are Other Cheeses Recalled in Connection with this Outbreak?

Yes, it’s important to note that some contaminated cheese may have been repackaged or relabeled under a different brand name. Check packages for the manufacturer permit number 24-128.

Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC Recall (June 5, 2026)

• Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC of Bay Shore, NY — a distributor of Clover Hill Dairy requesón — recalled 1-pound packages of requesón sold in plastic clam-shell containers.
• This product was sold to retail locations in New York from May 15 to May 28, 2026, and was also likely repackaged in stores.
• A list of New York retail stores where Nelson & Isa Lacteos distributed the recalled cheese is linked in the recall announcement. 

Where Was the Recalled Requesón Cheese Sold?

Clover Hill Dairy products are sold through the company’s retail market in Maryland, at farmers’ markets, and through third-party distributors. Based on traceback information to date, the recalled cheese was distributed in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. Officials have warned it may have reached additional states. Because the product can be repackaged and relabeled, consumers across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond should check any soft requesón or ricotta cheese for the 24-128 permit number.

Who Is Most at Risk from Listeria?

Listeriosis is uncommon but unusually dangerous for certain groups. People at highest risk include:

• Pregnant women, who are roughly 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. Even a mild infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection in a newborn.
• Adults 65 and older.
• People with weakened immune systems, including those with cancer, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, or HIV.
• Newborns, who can be infected before or during birth.

If you are in one of these groups, the CDC advises avoiding recalled soft cheese entirely. Learn more on our Listeria and pregnancy page.

Symptoms of a Listeria Infection

Symptoms of a Listeria infection can appear within 24 hours of eating contaminated food, but they may take as long as 10 weeks (about 70 days) to develop. Common listeriosis symptoms include:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Stiff neck and muscle stiffness
• Nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea
• Loss of balance, confusion, or convulsions

Severe infections can progress to meningitis, sepsis, and other serious complications. Pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms yet still suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth. Anyone who develops these symptoms after eating recalled cheese should seek medical care and mention the possible Listeria exposure.

What Should You Do If You Ate This Cheese?

1. Check your refrigerator for any requesón or soft ricotta cheese, and look for the plant/permit number 24-128. Throw it out or return it to the store.
2. Do not taste it to see if it is “still good.” Listeria grows even at refrigerator temperatures and cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted.
3. Clean your refrigerator and any surfaces or containers the cheese touched, since Listeria can survive and spread to other foods.
4. Monitor your health for 70 days and see a doctor right away if you develop symptoms, especially if you are pregnant, older, or immunocompromised.
5. Preserve evidence if you got sick: keep any remaining cheese and packaging (sealed, in the freezer), save your store receipts, and request copies of your medical and lab records confirming a Listeria diagnosis.

Why Soft Cheeses Cause So Many Listeria Outbreaks

Soft, fresh cheeses like requesón, queso fresco, and ricotta are repeatedly tied to Listeria outbreaks for a reason. Listeria monocytogenes thrives in cold temperatures, and the high-moisture, low-salt, low-acid environment of these cheeses provides ideal conditions for the bacteria to multiply — even in a properly refrigerated product. Unlike aged hard cheeses, fresh soft cheeses offer the pathogen little resistance.

This is not the first requesón or queso-style outbreak our food safety lawyers have investigated. The same category of cheese was behind the El Abuelito queso fresco and requesón outbreak and the Rizo López queso fresco and cotija outbreak, among others. For a fuller picture, see our list of foods that commonly cause Listeria poisoning.

Notably, the FDA has stated that there is not yet enough evidence to determine whether the recalled Clover Hill cheese explains the entire outbreak, and the agency continues to investigate whether additional products or cheeses are linked. That open question makes a careful, independent investigation especially important for anyone who was sickened.

Can You File a Clover Hill Dairy Listeria Lawsuit?

If there is evidence that your illness is linked to this outbreak, you may have a claim. Here is how these cases generally work.

Evidence That Supports a Claim

• Medical records and a lab-confirmed Listeria diagnosis (a positive stool or blood culture)
• Whole genome sequencing showing a genetic match to the outbreak strain
• Purchase records or receipts for the recalled cheese
• Any leftover product available for testing

Damages You May Recover

• Medical costs, including hospitalization and long-term care
• Lost income and lost earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, and disability
• Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one. Our team has extensive Listeria wrongful death experience.

Who Can Be Held Responsible

Our legal team pursues every responsible company in the distribution chain, which in an outbreak like this can include the manufacturer (Clover Hill Dairy), the distributor (Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC), any co-packers or ingredient suppliers, and the retailers and grocery stores that sold the cheese. (See: Can I sue a grocery store for food poisoning?) A multi-year outbreak that went undetected from 2023 to 2026 also raises serious questions about the manufacturer’s food-safety practices — questions our attorneys know how to investigate through the discovery process.

Experienced Listeria Lawyers Who Win

Pritzker Hageman has represented clients in every major Listeria outbreak in recent memory and has won numerous multimillion-dollar recoveries, including:

• $6.4 million for a neurologic injury from a contaminated deli product
• $4.5 million for permanent brain damage from contaminated food
• $3 million for a pregnant woman who lost her unborn twins after eating contaminated food
• $1 million for illness from contaminated deli meat

If you were sickened in this outbreak or if you suffered the wrongful death of a family member and would like a free consultation with our experienced team of Listeria lawyers, please contact us today by calling 888-377-8900 (toll-free), texting 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below.

Our legal team pursues all responsible companies in the distribution chain. We make house and hospital calls nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cheese is recalled in the Clover Hill Dairy Listeria outbreak?

All Clover Hill Dairy requesón / soft ricotta cheese (including jalapeño and other flavors) sold between May 4 and May 30, 2026, plus 1-pound clam-shell packages of requesón distributed by Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC in New York from May 15–28, 2026. Look for plant number 24-128 on the label, and be aware the cheese may have been relabeled under another brand.

How many people are sick?

As of June 9, 2026, the CDC reports 9 confirmed illnesses across Maryland, New York, and Virginia, with 8 hospitalizations and 1 death. The true number is likely higher because many cases go undiagnosed.

Is requesón the same as ricotta?

Requesón is a fresh, soft, ricotta-style cheese common in Mexican and Latin American cooking. It is similar to ricotta in texture and is often labeled “soft ricotta.”

How long after eating contaminated cheese do Listeria symptoms appear?

Symptoms can appear within 24 hours but may take up to 10 weeks (about 70 days). Anyone who ate the recalled cheese should monitor their health during that window.

Can I sue if I got sick from Clover Hill Dairy cheese?

If you have a lab-confirmed Listeria infection linked to the recalled cheese, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Contact our Listeria lawyers for a free, no-obligation evaluation.

Related Reading

• Listeria Monocytogenes Food Poisoning (Overview)
• Listeria Lawyer
• Listeria Lawsuit
• 15 Things You Need to Know About Listeria
• Study: Soft Cheeses Are a Top Listeria Threat for Pregnant Women
• How Whole Genome Sequencing Links Outbreaks
• List of Foods That Cause Listeria Poisoning
• 10 Most Recent Listeria Outbreaks
• FDA: El Abuelito Listeria Recall Expanded to Include Quesillo, Requeson
• El Abuelito Queso Fresco Listeria Outbreak Ends
• El Abuelito Listeria Outbreak Legal Investigation
• Ricotta Cheese Recall Prompted by Listeria Food Poisoning Outbreak
• Cheese Recall Lawyers File Suit against Forever Cheese for Listeria Infection

Sources

• CDC — Investigation Update: Listeria Outbreak (June 2026)
• CDC Newsroom — Listeria Outbreak Linked to Requesón/Soft Ricotta Cheese
• FDA — Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Soft Cheese (June 2026)
• Maryland Department of Health — Consumer Advisory
• Food Poisoning Bulletin — Deadly Clover Hill Requesón Listeria Outbreak Sickens Nine