Clover Hill Dairy Expands Recall to All Cheese Products as Listeria Outbreak Investigation Continues

Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Md., has expanded its recall to include all cheese products as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local officials continue to investigate a multistate, multi-year outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to requeson, a soft cheese similar to ricotta manufactured by the company. Nine illnesses, eight hospitalizations and one death have been reported in the outbreak.

On June 14, The Maryland Department of Health announced an expanded consumer advisory for all cheese products made by Clover Hill Dairy due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. FDA said it is working with Maryland state partners and Clover Hill Dairy to initiate an expanded recall of all products made at the facility. 

As part of the investigation, FDA and state partners collected and analyzed samples from the manufacturer. To date, six product samples of requeson cheese have tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and matched the outbreak strain. Additionally, one environmental sample, collected by Maryland state partners, tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and matched the outbreak strain.

Clover Hill Dairy agreed to expand its recall to include all cheese products manufactured by the company. The recall includes the following:

• Soft and Semi-Soft “Spanish Style Cheese Varieties”: Cuajada, Soft Cuajada, Soft Cuajada in Brine, Soft Cuajada Crumbs, Ricotta/Requeson, and Soft Ricotta w/ Jalapenos (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), and 3-in-A-Pack - Assorted (White Colby, Marble Jack, and Yummy Cheddar)
• Hard Cheese Varieties: Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, and Snack Pack Sharp Stix
• Smoked Cheddar Cheese Varieties: Cheddar and White Cheddar
• Flavored Cheeses: Horseradish and Old Bay Cheddar
• Pepper Cheese Varieties: Jalapeño Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Sizzlin’ Colby (with Habanero Peppers), Snack Pack- Assorted Pepper Stix (Jalapeño Cheddar and Pepper Jack), and 3-in-A-Pack - Assorted (Jalapeño Cheddar, Pepper Jack, and Sizzlin Colby)
• Smoked Pepper Cheese Varieties: Jalapeño Cheddar

A distributor of Clover Hill Dairy requeson cheese has also initiated a recall. On June 5, Nelson & Isa Lacteos, of Bay Shore, N.Y., initiated a recallof one-pound packages of requeson cheese sold in clear plastic clam-shell containers to retail locations in New York from May 15-28. The recalled cheese was likely repacked at the retail store locations, and labeling or coding of recalled cheese may vary based on location of purchase, said FDA.

A list of New York retail stores and locations that FDA has reason to believe received requeson cheese that was included in the recall by Nelson & Isa Lacteos can be found in the recall announcement. 

FDA’s investigation is ongoing, and this advisory will be updated with more information as it becomes available.