A deadly Listeria outbreak has pushed Clover Hill Dairy cheese products into a wider national food-safety spotlight, with federal health officials warning consumers to check refrigerators, freezers and store-bought cheese labels carefully.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says Clover Hill Dairy LLC of Mechanicsville, Maryland, expanded its recall on June 18, 2026, to include all cheese products manufactured at its facility because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The CDCâs June 24 update reported 12 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations and one death connected to the outbreak. The recalled cheese was distributed in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., and was sold through a retail market, farmers markets and other distributors.
For shoppers, the risk is not limited to one label. Clover Hill Dairy cheese may have been relabeled before distribution and sold under names including KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO and RIO LINDO.
Full list of recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese products
The recall covers a wide range of soft, hard, flavored and smoked cheeses. Consumers should check any recent purchase of cuajada, ricotta-style cheese, cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, smoked cheese, cheese curds or cheese snack packs.
Products listed in the recall include Soft Cuajada in Brine sold in 5-gallon buckets weighing 30 pounds and 2-gallon buckets weighing 14 pounds. Soft Cuajada sold vacuum sealed is included in 5-pound bags, 2.5-pound clamshells and 0.90-pound, or 14-ounce, clamshells.
Cuajada sold vacuum sealed in 30-pound boxes is affected, along with Ricotta sold in 5-gallon buckets weighing 40 pounds, 2-gallon buckets weighing 18 pounds, 2.5-pound tubs and 1-pound clamshells. Soft Cuajada Crumbs are also included.
Mild cheese varieties in the recall include Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, Monterey Jack and Marble Jack in 1/2-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound, 5-pound and 40-pound sizes.
The list also includes Mild Snack Pack Assorted Regular Mild Stix in White Colby, Marble Jack and Yummy Cheddar, sold in approximately 0.40-pound, or 6.4-ounce, packs. Three-in-a-Pack Assorted White Colby, Marble Jack and Yummy Cheddar products weighing about 0.20 pounds, or 3.2 ounces, are also recalled.
Fresh Cheddar Curd in 0.75-pound and 1.50-pound boxes is affected. Sharp cheese varieties include Cheddar, Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar and Monterey Jack in 1/2-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound and 5-pound sizes.
Sharp Cheese Snack Pack Sharp Stix White or Yellow, in regular packs of about 0.40 pounds, is included. Flavored cheeses listed in the recall include Horseradish and Old Bay Cheddar in 1/2-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound, 5-pound and 40-pound sizes.
Pepper Jack varieties include Jalapeno Cheddar, Pepper Jack and Sizzlin Colby with Habanero Peppers in 1/2-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound, 5-pound and 40-pound sizes. Assorted Pepperjack Stix snack packs and three-in-a-pack Jalapeno Cheddar, Pepper Jack and Sizzlin Colby products are also affected.
Smoked Cheddar varieties, including Cheddar and White Cheddar in 1/2-pound and 1-pound sizes, are recalled. Smoked Pepper cheese varieties, including Jalapeno Cheddar in 1/2-pound and 1-pound pieces, are also on the list.
Why this recall is different from a routine store alert
This is not simply a quality-control issue or a packaging correction. Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in pregnant people, newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
The concern is also practical: Listeria can survive under refrigeration. A contaminated cheese may look normal, smell normal and still create a health risk if eaten or if it spreads bacteria to shelves, knives, containers or cutting boards.
Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. Anyone who ate recalled cheese and develops symptoms should contact a healthcare professional, especially if they are in a higher-risk group.
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What shoppers should do now
Consumers should not eat, sell or serve any recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese. Do not taste the cheese to decide whether it is safe.
The safest step is to throw the product away in a sealed bag or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any refrigerator shelf, drawer, container, cutting board or utensil that touched the cheese should be washed and sanitized.
People who bought cheese from farmers markets, small retailers or distributors should pay close attention to relabeled products, especially if the package carries one of the alternate brand names listed above.
For the latest official outbreak details, readers can review the CDC Listeria outbreak update.
Consumers tracking similar food-safety alerts can also read the latest U.S. consumer news for recall and public-health updates.
Anyone with questions can contact the Southern Maryland Agriculture Development Commission on behalf of Clover Hill Dairy at (240) 528-8850, extension 327.
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