Requeson Cheese Recall Lawsuit Update: Injuries, Recall Status, and Legal Options

Recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese has been linked to a multistate Listeria outbreak investigation involving requesón, soft ricotta, and other cheese products.

As of FDA’s June 24 update, 12 people in four states had been infected with the outbreak strain. Ten people were hospitalized, and one death was reported.

No publicly announced class action, multidistrict litigation, or settlement specific to the Clover Hill Dairy outbreak has been identified in the cited government materials. Consumers who suffered a medically documented illness after eating recalled cheese may still qualify for an individual legal review.

Consumers should not eat recalled cheese and should check whether products were repacked, relabeled, or sold under another brand name. People who became ill should preserve packaging, receipts, medical records, laboratory results, and purchase-location information.

Next Review: August 29, 2026

Quick Facts

• Clover Hill Dairy expanded its recall on June 18, 2026, to include all cheese products manufactured at its Mechanicsville, Maryland, facility.
• The outbreak includes 12 reported illnesses, 10 hospitalizations, and one death across four states.
• Recalled cheese was distributed in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and may have reached other states.
• Products may have been repacked or sold under brands including Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo, Rio Lindo, La Colonia, and Selectos Latinos.

Latest News & Updates on the Requeson Cheese Recall Lawsuit

June 2026

June 29, 2026 – FDA added La Ceiba Foods Latin Market Inc. recalled products to its outbreak advisory after La Ceiba recalled Requesón Salvadoreño and Requesón Mexicano products marketed under the La Colonia and Selectos Latinos brands. FDA said the affected products were distributed to supermarkets, retail stores, and restaurants in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. [1, 2].

June 24, 2026 – FDA updated the outbreak investigation to report 12 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations, and one death across Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Virginia. FDA also reported that epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory evidence linked the outbreak to soft cheese products manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy [1].

June 18, 2026 – Clover Hill Dairy expanded its recall to include all cheese products manufactured at its facility because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The expanded recall includes requesón, cuajada, cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, cheese curds, flavored cheeses, pepper cheeses, smoked cheeses, snack packs, and other varieties [3].

June 5, 2026 – FDA posted Clover Hill Dairy’s recall of soft ricotta and requesón cheese because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. FDA also reported that Clover Hill Dairy had ceased production and distribution of all cheese products while FDA, Maryland health officials, and the company continued investigating [4].

June 2026 – CDC and FDA warned consumers about a Listeria outbreak linked to soft cheese and continued working with state and local partners to identify affected products and distribution channels. CDC identifies pregnant women, adults 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems as groups at higher risk for severe Listeria illness [5, 6].

What Is the Requeson Cheese Recall?

The requeson cheese recall began as a recall of Clover Hill Dairy soft ricotta and requesón cheese. The recall later expanded to include all cheese products manufactured at Clover Hill Dairy’s Mechanicsville, Maryland, facility.

FDA describes the outbreak as a multistate, multi-year investigation involving Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to soft cheese. The affected product list now reaches beyond requesón and soft ricotta.

The broader recall includes all Clover Hill Dairy cheese products made at the facility. These include soft cheeses, hard cheeses, flavored cheeses, pepper cheeses, smoked cheeses, cheese curds, snack packs, and other varieties.

Product tracing may be unusually difficult because some recalled cheese was sold in bulk, repacked by retailers, or distributed under other brand names. Consumers should not rely only on the front-facing brand name when checking whether a product may be affected.

Which Clover Hill Dairy Cheese Products Are Recalled?

The expanded recall includes all cheese products manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy at its Mechanicsville, Maryland, facility. FDA’s recall materials identify requesón and soft ricotta as the initial focus, but the later expansion covers all cheese products made at the facility.

Recalled products may include:

• Requesón and soft ricotta cheese.
• Cuajada and other soft cheeses.
• Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, and other hard cheeses.
• Cheese curds, flavored cheeses, pepper cheeses, and smoked cheeses.
• Snack packs and other Clover Hill Dairy cheese products.
• Repacked or relabeled products sold under other brand names.

Consumers should check for Clover Hill Dairy’s manufacturer permit or plant number when available. FDA’s materials identify manufacturer permit or plant number 24-128 as important for tracing some recalled products.

Some products may have been sold under brand names such as Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo, Rio Lindo, La Colonia, and Selectos Latinos. Because downstream recalls and relabeling may affect product identity, consumers should compare brand, label, seller, date, product type, and purchase location against current FDA recall materials.

Where Was the Recalled Cheese Distributed?

FDA and CDC materials identify confirmed Clover Hill Dairy distribution in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Additional distribution may have occurred beyond those jurisdictions.

La Ceiba Foods products marketed under the La Colonia and Selectos Latinos brands were distributed to supermarkets, retail stores, and restaurants in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Those products were added to FDA’s outbreak advisory after the downstream recall.

Consumers in other states should still check product labels and purchase records if they bought soft cheese, requesón, repacked cheese, or Clover Hill Dairy products during the relevant period. Food may move through distributors, restaurants, and retailers before reaching consumers.

What Is Listeria?

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious foodborne illness. Illness may be especially severe for pregnant women, newborns, adults 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms can vary depending on the person and the type of infection. Listeria illness may involve fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Pregnant women may experience fever and flu-like symptoms, but infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Consumers in higher-risk groups should seek medical guidance if they may have eaten recalled cheese.

Reported Risks or Injuries

The reported risk is Listeria infection after eating contaminated cheese. FDA’s current outbreak advisory reports illnesses, hospitalizations, and one death connected to the outbreak investigation.

Listeria infections can be severe and may require hospitalization. Serious cases may involve invasive infection, bloodstream infection, meningitis, pregnancy complications, or other outcomes depending on the patient’s health and timing of treatment.

The outbreak investigation does not mean every person who bought or ate Clover Hill Dairy cheese became ill. Product identity, timing, diagnosis, medical records, and laboratory testing remain important for any individual legal review.

Anyone who developed symptoms after eating recalled cheese should contact a healthcare provider. People should also keep any available packaging, receipts, photos, medical records, laboratory results, and purchase-location information.

How Does the Problem Occur, and Who May Be Liable?

The problem can occur when cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes is produced, repacked, distributed, sold, or served to consumers. In this outbreak, FDA identified soft cheese products manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy as linked to the investigation.

A legal investigation may examine production records, environmental sampling, product testing, sanitation records, distribution documents, retailer records, relabeling practices, recall timing, and communications among manufacturers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, and regulators. These records may help determine how contaminated cheese entered commerce and whether appropriate food-safety procedures were followed.

Potentially responsible parties may include Clover Hill Dairy, downstream repackers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, foodservice operators, or other entities involved in manufacturing, repacking, distributing, selling, or serving recalled cheese. Liability depends on product identity, exposure evidence, illness timing, laboratory confirmation, damages, available defendants, and applicable state law.

A recall or outbreak investigation does not automatically prove that any company is legally responsible for a specific illness. An individual review may focus on whether the consumer ate recalled cheese, whether Listeria was diagnosed, and whether the timing and evidence support causation.

Who May Be Affected?

Consumers may be affected if they ate recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese, repacked cheese, or downstream products sold under related brand names. People may also be affected if they ate recalled cheese at a restaurant, market, deli, gathering, workplace, or household meal.

Higher-risk consumers include pregnant women, newborns, adults 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. These groups should be especially cautious because Listeria can cause severe illness and pregnancy-related complications.

Families may be affected if an illness caused hospitalization, medical bills, pregnancy loss, missed work, caregiving needs, travel costs, or other expenses. The strength of an individual claim depends on the diagnosis, product evidence, timing, damages, and proof connecting the illness to recalled cheese.

Do I Qualify?

• Did you eat recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese, requesón, soft ricotta, repacked cheese, or a downstream recalled product?
• Were you diagnosed with Listeria infection after eating the cheese?
• Did you require hospitalization, medical care, pregnancy-related treatment, or time away from work?
• Do you have packaging, receipts, photos, medical records, laboratory results, purchase records, or witness information?

A legal review can help determine eligibility by evaluating recalled-product exposure, illness timing, laboratory confirmation, medical treatment, damages, evidence, potentially responsible parties, and filing deadlines.

Do I Have a Requeson Cheese Recall Lawsuit?

If you or a loved one developed a Listeria infection after eating recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese, you may have legal options. Contact Schmidt & Clark for a free case review.

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Important Legal Actions or Recalls

Potential Compensation

Potential compensation may include emergency care, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, blood cultures, medication, follow-up appointments, pregnancy-related care, and future medical expenses.

Additional damages may include pain and suffering, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pregnancy loss, funeral expenses, caregiving costs, travel expenses, and out-of-pocket losses. The specific damages available depend on the illness, documentation, state law, causation evidence, and the facts of the claim.

Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Legal Process Overview

Step 1: Free case review. The review begins with what cheese was eaten, where it was purchased or served, when symptoms began, and whether Listeria was diagnosed. Packaging, receipts, photos, medical records, laboratory results, and purchase-location information may help establish the basic facts.

Step 2: Investigation. The investigation may examine recalled-product identity, exposure timing, FDA and CDC updates, distribution records, relabeling records, medical records, lab results, and potential defendants. Attorneys may also review whether the illness timing and evidence match the outbreak investigation.

Step 3: Filing. A supported claim may allege negligence, strict product liability, breach of warranty, failure to warn, supplier liability, retailer liability, or other food-safety theories. Filing occurs only when the evidence and applicable law support a claim against one or more responsible parties.

Step 4: Discovery/negotiation. The parties may exchange production records, sanitation documents, environmental testing results, distribution records, recall communications, medical records, expert opinions, and testimony. Negotiations may focus on product identity, causation, diagnosis, illness severity, hospitalization, lost income, and continuing harm.

Step 5: Resolution. A case may resolve through settlement, dismissal, court ruling, or trial. The outcome depends on exposure proof, product tracing, medical documentation, damages, defenses, available defendants, and applicable law.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Requeson Cheese Recall Lawsuit

What is the Requeson Cheese Recall Lawsuit?

The phrase refers to potential individual legal claims involving Listeria illness after eating recalled requesón, soft ricotta, or other Clover Hill Dairy cheese products. No publicly announced class action, MDL, or settlement specific to the outbreak is identified in the cited government materials.

Why was requesón cheese recalled?

Clover Hill Dairy initially recalled soft ricotta and requesón cheese because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall later expanded to include all cheese products manufactured at the facility.

What are the current outbreak totals?

FDA’s June 24 update reported 12 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations, and one death. The reported illnesses were in Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Virginia.

Which products are included in the Clover Hill Dairy recall?

The recall now includes all cheese products manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy at its Mechanicsville, Maryland, facility. That includes requesón, soft ricotta, cuajada, hard cheeses, cheese curds, smoked cheeses, flavored cheeses, and other varieties.

Could recalled cheese have been sold under other brand names?

Yes. FDA’s outbreak advisory identifies recalled or potentially related products sold under multiple brand names, including Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo, Rio Lindo, La Colonia, and Selectos Latinos. Product tracing may require checking labels, plant numbers, receipts, purchase locations, and FDA recall updates.

Who is at higher risk from Listeria?

Pregnant women, newborns, adults 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness. Anyone in a higher-risk group who may have eaten recalled cheese should contact a healthcare provider for guidance.

Can I file a Requeson Cheese Recall Lawsuit if I got Listeria?

Possibly. A legal review may consider whether you ate a recalled product, whether Listeria was diagnosed, whether the timing fits the outbreak, and what medical or financial losses occurred. Eligibility depends on the facts and applicable state law.

What evidence could support a Requeson Cheese Recall Lawsuit?

Helpful evidence may include packaging, labels, plant-number photos, receipts, bank records, loyalty-card records, restaurant records, medical records, laboratory results, prescription records, and witness information. If the product was discarded, purchase and medical records may still help document exposure and illness timing.

References

1. https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-soft-cheese-june-2026
2. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/la-ceiba-foods-latin-market-inc-recalls-cottage-cheese-products-because-possible-health-risk
3. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/clover-hill-dairy-expands-recall-include-all-clover-hill-dairy-brand-cheese-due-possible-health-risk
4. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/clover-hill-dairy-recalls-soft-ricottarequeson-cheese-due-possible-health-risk
5. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2026/cdc-warns-of-listeria-outbreak-linked-to-requeson-soft-ricotta-cheese.html
6. https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/about/index.html