The Clover Hill Dairy Listeria outbreak is not over.
As of June 9, 2026, nine people have been confirmed infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes. Eight have been hospitalized. One person — from Maryland — has died. The contamination timeline extends back to March 2023, indicating the bacteria had been embedded in the Clover Hill Dairy production environment for at least three years before the outbreak was identified.
On June 18, 2026, Clover Hill Dairy expanded its voluntary recall to include all of its cheese products — not just the requeson and soft ricotta-style varieties initially recalled. The Maryland Department of Health has suspended the dairy's operating license.
If you purchased cheese from Clover Hill Dairy — under any name — in any distribution area, there are specific steps the CDC wants you to take.
Why This Matters
Listeria monocytogenes is among the most dangerous foodborne pathogens in the United States. It kills approximately 20 percent of the people it infects — a case fatality rate far higher than E. coli, Salmonella, or Campylobacter. And it targets the people who are already most vulnerable: pregnant women, adults 65 and older, and immunocompromised individuals.
Unlike most foodborne pathogens, Listeria grows in refrigerator temperatures. This means that throwing out the recalled cheese is not sufficient. Any surface, container, or food that touched the recalled cheese in the refrigerator may harbor the bacteria — and standard refrigerator temperatures will not reduce that contamination over time.
Listeria symptoms can take anywhere from one day to 70 days to appear after exposure — far longer than most foodborne illnesses. This extended window means families who ate recalled cheese weeks ago are still in the exposure period.
What We Know So Far
The CDC's outbreak investigation identified the outbreak by connecting a cluster of related Listeria cases through the PulseNet whole-genome sequencing system. The outbreak strain was confirmed in six samples of requeson cheese and in one environmental sample from inside the Clover Hill Dairy facility. The epidemiological and laboratory evidence points unambiguously to Clover Hill Dairy as the source.
The contamination timeline is alarming. Illness onset dates range from March 2023 through May 2026 — meaning Clover Hill Dairy products have been causing Listeria infections for at least three years. The facility operated without public notification of the contamination during that entire period.
Traceback investigation found products distributed through Clover Hill Dairy's own retail market in Mechanicsville, Maryland; through farmers markets; and through third-party distributors.
The Brand Names to Look For
This is a critical piece of information that many consumers miss: Clover Hill Dairy cheese was frequently relabeled before reaching consumers. According to the FDA, products from Clover Hill Dairy may have been sold under the following brand names:
- Kesso
- Quesos La Ricura
- Izalco
- De Mi Pueblo
- Rio Lindo
- And other private label names
Consumers can confirm the origin of a cheese product by looking for permit number 24-128 on the packaging, which identifies Clover Hill Dairy as the manufacturer regardless of the brand name on the label.
Additionally, Nelson & Isa Lacteos, LLC of Bay Shore, New York, also recalled one-pound plastic clamshell containers of requeson cheese sold at retail locations in New York from May 15 to May 28, 2026, linked to the same outbreak.
Where Products Were Distributed
Clover Hill Dairy products were distributed to Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Given the multi-level distribution through farmers markets and third-party distributors, the geographic footprint may extend further.
The CDC's Specific Guidance for Affected Families
The CDC has issued specific, step-by-step guidance for anyone who may have purchased Clover Hill Dairy cheese. According to the CDC's outbreak guidance, families should take the following actions:
Step 1: Stop eating the recalled cheese. Do not taste any recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese — even a small amount can cause illness in people who are susceptible.
Step 2: Discard it safely. Place recalled cheese in a sealed bag inside a second sealed bag before putting it in the trash, to prevent cross-contamination.
Step 3: Clean the refrigerator. This is not optional. Any shelf, drawer, wall, or door gasket that may have come into contact with the recalled cheese should be washed with hot soapy water, then sanitized with a dilute bleach solution (1 tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water). Pay particular attention to door gaskets and rubber seals, which harbor bacteria in crevices.
Step 4: Discard ready-to-eat foods that directly contacted the recalled cheese. Any food that was stored in direct contact with recalled cheese — particularly other soft cheeses, ready-to-eat deli items, or foods that will be eaten without cooking — should be discarded.
Step 5: Wash hands. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling any recalled cheese or items that may have contacted it.
Step 6: Contact a doctor if anyone is at high risk. If anyone in the household is pregnant, over 65, or immunocompromised and has consumed Clover Hill Dairy cheese products, contact a health care provider immediately — even if they feel well now. Listeria can cause serious illness without obvious early symptoms in vulnerable individuals.
Who Faces the Greatest Risk?
- Pregnant women — even mild Listeria illness in the mother can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or serious neonatal infection
- Adults 65 and older — the highest rate of hospitalization and death from invasive listeriosis
- Immunocompromised individuals, including those with cancer, organ transplants, HIV, or those taking high-dose steroids or immunosuppressive medications
- Newborns infected around the time of birth
Symptoms and Warning Signs to Watch For
Symptoms of Listeria infection can begin as early as the same day or as late as 70 days after exposure. Milder symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea. In high-risk individuals, invasive listeriosis can cause severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. In pregnant women, the primary symptoms are often only fever, muscle aches, and fatigue — the infection may feel like a mild flu while causing serious harm to the pregnancy.
Contact a health care provider promptly if anyone who consumed recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese develops any of these symptoms, and mention the possible Listeria exposure explicitly.
What You Can Do Now
- Check all cheese in your refrigerator for permit number 24-128 on the packaging.
- Discard all Clover Hill Dairy cheese — all varieties, since the June 18 recall expanded to the entire product line.
- Follow the CDC's five-step refrigerator cleaning protocol described above.
- Contact a health care provider immediately if a pregnant household member, anyone over 65, or an immunocompromised person consumed any Clover Hill Dairy cheese.
- Report any illness to your state health department or the CDC's online reporting system.
Cost and Access: What Patients Should Know
Consumers who purchased Clover Hill Dairy products can call 240-528-8850, extension 327, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern, for refund information. For people without health insurance who develop symptoms, federally qualified health centers offer care regardless of ability to pay.
What Happens Next
The FDA's investigation is ongoing. Additional products may be added to the recall if the distribution footprint expands. MedicalDaily will continue reporting on new case counts, investigation updates, and any changes to the recall scope.
The Bottom Line
The Clover Hill Dairy Listeria outbreak has killed one person and hospitalized eight others across three states, with contamination dating to at least 2023. All cheese from this facility — sold under at least five different brand names — has been recalled. If you purchased any cheese from Clover Hill Dairy, discard it immediately, clean your refrigerator with a bleach solution, and contact a doctor right now if anyone in a high-risk group consumed it.
