Maryland 2026 — The Maryland Department of Health announced today an expanded consumer advisory for all cheese products made by Clover Hill Dairy, located in Mechanicsville, Md., due to possible Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) contamination. The facility has agreed to initiate a voluntary recall for all of its cheese products.
The Maryland Department of Health previously issued a consumer advisory on June 3, 2026 for Clover Hill Dairy requesón/soft ricotta cheese products. Due to the public health risk, the Maryland Department of Health suspended the facility’s operating license on May 30, 2026, and is continuing a follow up evaluation in cooperation with the facility.
Clover Hill Dairy products are sold directly from their retail market, at farmers markets, and through third party distributors, including in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Products may be relabeled under a different brand name when distributed, including but not limited to KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, RIO LINDO. Consumers are urged to check the manufacturer information on packages, if available. The label should identify the Clover Hill Dairy manufacturer permit (or plant) number as “24-128”.
Consumers, retailers and restaurants should not eat, sell or serve cheese products from Clover Hill Dairy, and should dispose of any product containing them. Written as they appear on Clover Hill Dairy products and pricing sheets, these cheeses include but are not limited to:
Soft and Semi-Soft “Spanish Style Cheese Varieties”
- Cuajada
- Soft Cuajada
- Soft Cuajada in Brine
- Soft Cujada Crumbs
- Ricotta/Requeson
- Soft Ricotta w/ Jalapeno’s (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)
- 3-in-A-Pack - Assorted (White Colby, Marble Jack, and Yummy Cheddar)
Hard Cheese Varieties
- Yummy Cheddar
- White Cheddar
- White Colby
- Snack Pack Sharp Stix
Smoked Cheddar Cheese Varieties
- Cheddar
- White Cheddar
Flavored Cheeses
- Horseradish
- Old Bay Cheddar
Pepper Cheese Varieties
- Jalapeno Cheddar
- Pepper Jack
- Sizzlin’ Colby (with Habanero Peppers)
- Snack Pack- Assorted Pepper Stix (Jalapeno Cheddar and Pepper Jack)
- 3-in-A-Pack - Assorted (Jalapendo Cheddar, Pepper Jack, and Sizzlin Colby)
Smoked Pepper Cheese Varieties
- Jalapeno Cheddar
To date, whole genome sequencing has identified a total of nine individuals across multiple states infected with this Listeria outbreak strain, including one death in Maryland that occurred in 2023. The Maryland Department of Health will not release additional information about the individuals to protect their privacy.
L. monocytogenes is a type of disease-causing bacteria, part of the Listeria family, that can grow in unsanitary food production conditions, leading to contamination of the food. When people eat food contaminated with L. monocytogenes, they may develop a disease called listeriosis. It can survive and grow even under refrigeration, and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces. Pets can also spread the bacteria in the home if they eat food contaminated with L. monocytogenes.
Listeriosis can cause a range of symptoms that vary depending on the severity and form of the illness. It can be serious and life-threatening, particularly for pregnant women, newborns and young children, older adults, and persons with weakened immune systems. Mild symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which often persist for 1 to 3 days. For the more serious form of the disease, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Although people can sometimes develop listeriosis up to 2 months after eating contaminated food, symptoms usually begin within several days. People should immediately consult with a healthcare provider if they suspect they have developed symptoms that resemble a listeriosis infection.
Consumers at higher risk for Listeria illness should not eat any soft cheeses that are made with unpasteurized milk. Although pasteurization of milk kills Listeria, soft cheeses made from pasteurized milk can still become contaminated after the pasteurization process and cause Listeria illnesses.
This represents the best information currently available to the Maryland Department of Health.
