Published by The FDA and CDC are investigating a multi-year outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to requeson, a soft cheese similar to ricotta, manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy, LLC of Mechanicsville, Maryland. The FDA reported 9 total illnesses, 8 hospitalizations, and 1 death across Maryland, New York, and Virginia.
As of the FDA’s June 15, 2026 update, Clover Hill Dairy had agreed to expand its recall to include all cheese products manufactured at the firm. FDA and state partners also reported that six requeson product samples and one environmental sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and matched the outbreak strain.
Consumers who became sick after eating recalled Clover Hill cheese, or families of those who were hospitalized or died, may want to preserve product labels, receipts, medical records, and public health communications for a legal evaluation.
Quick Facts
- FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate Listeria outbreak linked to Clover Hill Dairy soft cheese.
- The outbreak includes 9 illnesses, 8 hospitalizations, and 1 death across 3 states.
- Clover Hill Dairy agreed to expand its recall to include all cheese products manufactured at the facility.
- Recalled products were distributed in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Table Of Contents
- Latest News & Updates on Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuits
- What Is the Clover Hill Cheese Recall?
- Reported Risks or Injuries
- How Does the Problem Occur, and Who May Be Liable?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Do I Qualify?
- Do I Have a Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuit?
- Important Legal Actions or Recalls
- Potential Compensation
- Legal Process Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions About Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuits
- What is the Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuit Evaluation about?
- Which Clover Hill cheese products were recalled?
- Why was Clover Hill cheese recalled?
- Who may qualify for a Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuit?
- What symptoms are associated with Listeria infection?
- Where was recalled Clover Hill cheese distributed?
- What evidence should I save for a Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuit?
- What should I do if I still have recalled Clover Hill cheese?
- References
Latest News & Updates on Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuits
June 2026
FDA reported on June 15, 2026, that Clover Hill Dairy agreed to expand its recall to include all cheese products manufactured at the firm, after FDA and CDC linked a multistate, multi-year Listeria monocytogenes outbreak to requeson cheese made by Clover Hill Dairy. FDA reported 9 illnesses, 8 hospitalizations, and 1 death, with product distribution confirmed in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. [1].
CDC’s outbreak advisory says Clover Hill Dairy expanded its recall to all of its cheese products and warns consumers not to eat recalled cheese. CDC also advises people to clean refrigerators, containers, and surfaces that may have touched recalled cheese because Listeria can survive in refrigerated environments and spread to other foods and surfaces [2].
FDA’s Listeria guidance explains that Listeria monocytogenes can survive and grow even under refrigeration and may thrive in unsanitary food production environments. When people eat food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, they may develop listeriosis [3].
What Is the Clover Hill Cheese Recall?
The Clover Hill cheese recall involves cheese products manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy, LLC of Mechanicsville, Maryland. FDA’s investigation initially focused on requeson, a soft cheese similar to ricotta, before the recall expanded to include all cheese products made at the facility.
Recalled products include several categories of cheese:
- Soft and semi-soft Spanish-style cheese varieties, including cuajada, ricotta/requeson, and soft ricotta with jalapeños
- Mild cheese varieties, including Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, Monterey Jack, Marble Jack, Fresh Cheddar Curd, and assorted snack packs
- Hard cheese varieties, including Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, and Snack Pack Sharp Stix
- Smoked cheddar varieties, flavored cheeses, pepper cheese varieties, and smoked pepper cheese varieties
Clover Hill soft ricotta/requeson cheese was sold in 10-ounce, 12-ounce, and 14-ounce individually packaged clamshell containers. It was also sold in bulk 5-gallon and 2-gallon buckets to some customers who repackaged the cheese.
Bulk cheese may have been repackaged under distributor brand names including KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, and RIO LINDO. Some products may have different branding, labels, or coding depending on where they were purchased.
Reported Risks or Injuries
The reported risk is listeriosis, an illness caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. In this outbreak, FDA reported 9 illnesses, 8 hospitalizations, and 1 death.
Symptoms may begin within two weeks of eating contaminated food, but they may start the same day or as late as 10 weeks after exposure. Mild symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea.
If invasive listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Severe illness is more likely in pregnant women, newborns, adults 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems.
For pregnant women, Listeria infection may cause fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, but it can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Anyone with symptoms after eating recalled cheese should contact a healthcare provider.
How Does the Problem Occur, and Who May Be Liable?
The problem may occur when cheese becomes contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes during manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, repackaging, or retail handling. FDA reported that six product samples of requeson cheese and one environmental sample matched the outbreak strain.
In a legal investigation, attorneys may examine sanitation controls, environmental monitoring, product testing, distribution records, supplier records, repackaging practices, recall timing, and communications with regulators. The fact that some cheese was repackaged or relabeled may make product tracing more difficult but also more important.
Potentially liable parties may include the manufacturer, distributor, repacker, retailer, supplier, or other entities in the food distribution chain. Liability depends on proof of product exposure, contamination, illness, causation, damages, and applicable state law.
A key issue in Clover Hill cases may be whether consumers can identify the product after repackaging. Manufacturer permit number 24-128, Clover Hill labeling, store receipts, distributor labels, product photos, and public health traceback information may all help connect a cheese product to the recall.
Who May Be Affected?
Consumers who purchased or ate recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese may be affected, especially if the cheese was bought in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. FDA cautioned that distribution could have reached additional states.
Restaurants, retailers, and consumers who handled recalled cheese may also need to clean and sanitize surfaces, containers, refrigerators, and food-contact areas. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and may spread to other foods or surfaces.
The most serious legal evaluations may involve confirmed or suspected listeriosis, hospitalization, pregnancy complications, severe infection, or death. Medical records, lab results, food history, receipts, and communications with public health officials may be important evidence.
Do I Qualify?
You may qualify for a legal review if you ate recalled Clover Hill cheese and later developed symptoms consistent with listeriosis, required medical treatment, were hospitalized, suffered pregnancy complications, or lost a loved one. The review will likely focus on product identification, illness timing, medical records, and public health findings.
Helpful evidence may include:
- Cheese packaging, labels, manufacturer permit number, batch information, photos, or remaining product
- Receipts, store loyalty records, credit card records, restaurant receipts, or distributor information
- Medical records, lab results, hospitalization records, discharge summaries, and treatment notes
- A written food history showing when and where the cheese was purchased, served, or eaten
- Communications with FDA, CDC, state health officials, retailers, restaurants, or healthcare providers
Consumers should not rely only on brand names because recalled cheese may have been repacked or sold under different labels. Product photos, store location, purchase dates, and public health traceback details can be valuable in reconstructing exposure.
Do I Have a Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one has been injured by recalled Clover Hill cheese, you may have legal options. Contact Schmidt & Clark for a free case review.
Important Legal Actions or Recalls
| Event | Month/Year | Type | Status | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDA and CDC investigate Clover Hill soft cheese outbreak | June 2026 | Foodborne illness outbreak investigation | Ongoing | FDA reported 9 illnesses, 8 hospitalizations, and 1 death linked to the outbreak strain | FDA |
| Clover Hill Dairy recall expanded | June 2026 | Expanded food recall | Active | Recall expanded to include all cheese products manufactured at Clover Hill Dairy | CDC |
| Product and environmental samples match outbreak strain | June 2026 | Laboratory finding | Reported | FDA reported six positive requeson product samples and one positive environmental sample matching the outbreak strain | FDA |
| Nelson & Isa Lacteos recall issued | June 2026 | Distributor recall | Active | Distributor recalled 1-lb requeson cheese packages sold at retail locations in New York | FDA |
Potential Compensation
Potential compensation in a Clover Hill cheese recall claim may include emergency care, hospitalization, physician visits, lab testing, medications, follow-up care, and other medical expenses. Families may also seek reimbursement for related out-of-pocket costs.
In serious cases, damages may include pain and suffering, lost wages, pregnancy complications, long-term health effects, funeral expenses, wrongful death damages, or loss of companionship where allowed by law. The value of a claim depends on illness severity, medical proof, product tracing, and applicable law.
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Legal Process Overview
Free case review: The process begins with a confidential review of the recalled product, purchase history, food history, symptoms, medical treatment, and any public health communications. Families may be asked for product photos, receipts, labels, and medical documentation.
Evidence preservation: Consumers should preserve packaging, labels, receipts, photos, remaining product, and lab or medical records when possible. If food must be discarded, take photos first and document where and when it was purchased.
Investigation: Attorneys may evaluate whether the cheese matches the recall, whether symptoms and lab results support listeriosis, and whether public health findings connect the product to the outbreak. Distribution records, repackaging details, and retailer information may also be reviewed.
Filing: If the evidence supports a claim, a lawsuit may allege product defect, negligence, failure to warn, breach of warranty, wrongful death, or other claims depending on the facts and state law. Filing deadlines vary, so early review can help protect potential rights.
Resolution: A case may resolve through settlement, dismissal, court ruling, or trial. The timeline depends on medical complexity, traceback evidence, available defendants, outbreak findings, and how the responsible parties respond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuits
What is the Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuit Evaluation about?
The Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuit Evaluation concerns potential claims by consumers who developed listeriosis or other serious complications after eating recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese. The outbreak investigation has reported illnesses, hospitalizations, and one death.
Which Clover Hill cheese products were recalled?
The expanded recall includes all cheese products manufactured at Clover Hill Dairy, including soft and semi-soft Spanish-style cheeses, mild cheese varieties, hard cheese varieties, smoked cheddar, flavored cheeses, pepper cheeses, and smoked pepper cheeses. Requeson and soft ricotta products were a central focus of the outbreak investigation.
Why was Clover Hill cheese recalled?
Clover Hill cheese was recalled because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination linked to a multistate outbreak. FDA reported that product and environmental samples matched the outbreak strain.
Who may qualify for a Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuit?
A person may qualify for a Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuit review if they ate recalled cheese and developed listeriosis, required hospitalization, suffered pregnancy complications, or lost a loved one. Product proof, medical records, and illness timing can help support the evaluation.
What symptoms are associated with Listeria infection?
Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Pregnant women may have mild symptoms, but infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or serious newborn infection.
Where was recalled Clover Hill cheese distributed?
FDA reported confirmed distribution in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The agency also cautioned that product could have been distributed further.
What evidence should I save for a Clover Hill Cheese Recall Lawsuit?
Save product packaging, labels, manufacturer permit number, receipts, store records, photos, remaining cheese, medical records, lab results, and public health communications. If the cheese was repacked or relabeled, store location and purchase date may be especially important.
What should I do if I still have recalled Clover Hill cheese?
Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled cheese. FDA advises consumers to return it to the place of purchase or throw it away and to clean and sanitize surfaces or containers that may have touched it.
References
- https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-soft-cheese-june-2026
- https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/soft-cheese-06-26/index.html
- https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/listeria-listeriosis