Class I U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Clover Hill Dairy Soft Ricotta/Requeson Cheese recall: Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

Recall published 5 months ago

Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Clover Hill Dairy Dairy — recalled dairyClover Hill Dairy Dairy — recalled dairy (photo 2)Clover Hill Dairy Dairy — recalled dairy (photo 3)Clover Hill Dairy Dairy — recalled dairy (photo 4)
4 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Listeria contamination

This is a Listeria recall, so the usual kitchen tests do not apply — the bacteria grow in a cold fridge and leave no smell, no cloudiness and no off taste.

What the notice says: June 5, 2026 - Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland is voluntarily recalling all Soft Ricotta/Requeson Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes , an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, or others with weakened immune systems.

Why it matters: Listeria monocytogenes is unusual among foodborne bacteria because it keeps growing at refrigerator temperature. A contaminated pack does not become safer for sitting in the cold, and it will look, smell and taste completely normal.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Listeriosis is mild or silent in most healthy adults, but it is serious for pregnant people, newborns, adults over 65 and anyone whose immune system is suppressed. The CDC describes intestinal illness as diarrhoea and vomiting, and invasive illness as fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. In pregnancy it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or infection in the newborn even when the parent feels only mildly unwell. Symptoms can start within a day or not appear for weeks, so tell any doctor you see that you ate a recalled product and give them the date.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Recall number
H-1199-2026
Published
June 9, 2026
Risk level
Class I
Status
Ongoing
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Clover Hill Dairy
Product type
Dairy
Units affected
Bulk distributors: 21,692 lbs. Retail: 7,465 lbs.
Distribution
District of Columbia, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington
Lot / code info
AA051526

Products covered by this recall

Soft Ricotta/Requeson Cheese

What the company announced

June 5, 2026 - Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland is voluntarily recalling all Soft Ricotta/Requeson Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes , an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, or others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and still births among pregnant women.

Clover Hill Soft Ricotta/Requeson cheese was distributed from May 4th, 2026 through May 30th, 2026 in the following states: North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, DC through bulk distributors, retail stores and directly to consumers.

Clover Hill Soft Ricotta/Requeson cheese was sold in retail size packaging as ten (10), twelve (12) and fourteen (14) ounce individually packaged clamshell containers. For clamshell containers with the Clover Hill Dairy Cheese brand name, please look for Clover Hill Dairy’s plant number 24-128 on the product label to assist with identifying recalled product.

The recalled cheese was also sold in bulk five (5) gallon and two (2) gallon buckets to some customers that repackaged the cheese. Please note the bulk cheese may be repackaged under individual bulk distributor brand names including but not limited to: KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, RIO LINDO.

To the best of our knowledge, to date, eight (8) cases of Listeria infections may have been linked to Clover Hill Soft Ricotta/Requeson cheese as published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).

Clover Hill Dairy was made aware of the potential public food health risk by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). Clover Hill Dairy has ceased production and distribution of all cheese products and has initiated a voluntary recall for Clover Hill Dairy Soft Ricotta/Requeson while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and Clover Hill Dairy continue their investigations.

Consumers who have purchased recalled Clover Hill Dairy Soft Ricotta/Requeson cheese, are urged to return it to the place of purchase in its original packaging for a full refund.

Clover Hill Dairy board and staff members sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and hardships caused by this recall, and we sincerely hope to correct this problem as soon as it is safely possible. Thank you for your understanding, we look forward to serving our valued customers again in the near future. Consumers with questions may contact Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission on behalf of Clover Hill Dairy at 240-528-8850 extension 327.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 7 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 5 gallon
  • 10 oz
  • 12 oz
  • 14 oz
  • 2 gallon
  • 692 lbs
  • 465 lbs

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Listeria

Clover Hill Dairy — This is a Listeria recall, so the usual kitchen tests do not apply — the bacteria grow in a cold fridge and leave no smell, no cloudiness and no off taste.

  1. Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.
  2. If anyone in the household is pregnant, over 65 or immunocompromised, call a clinician for advice even if nobody feels ill. That conversation is quick and it is the whole point of a Listeria recall.
  3. Photograph the label, the lot code and the date mark before the pack leaves the house — that picture is what a refund claim runs on.
  4. Throw it out in a sealed bag, or return it to the store. Either is accepted; what matters is that nobody else eats it.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased recalled Clover Hill Dairy Soft Ricotta/Requeson cheese, are urged to return it to the place of purchase in its original packaging for a full refund.

Company contact: Clover Hill Dairy, LLC. — Consumers: Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, 240-528-8850 extension 327

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Clover Hill Dairy dairy recalled?

Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. June 5, 2026 - Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland is voluntarily recalling all Soft Ricotta/Requeson Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes , an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, or others with weakened immune systems.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official FDA — Company recall announcements record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased recalled Clover Hill Dairy Soft Ricotta/Requeson cheese, are urged to return it to the place of purchase in its original packaging for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists District of Columbia, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington.

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