Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Listeria,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on June 18, 2026
A soft cheese Listeria outbreak has expanded the impacted products. A Clover Hill Dairy contamination issue initially prompted a recall of their ricotta and requeson soft cheese. However, several downline products have since been discovered, expanding the recall list to include Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC soft cheese products as well as other variations of Clover Hill Dairy cheese products.
What products are being recalled? Why are there so many products associated with the soft cheese outbreak? What is Listeria and why is it so dangerous? What should you do if you get sick?
Here’s what we know so far about the soft cheese Listeria outbreak!
Another illness has been included in the soft cheese Listeria outbreak since Make Food Safe last reported on the situation.
So far there have been at least nine illnesses resulting in eight hospitalizations and one death associated with the outbreak. Additional illnesses are possible as more information becomes available.
Sick patients have been reported in the states of Maryland, New York, and Virginia. However, affected products have been distributed to New Jersey, North Carolina, and Washington D.C. in addition to states with outbreak patients. Further distribution is likely.
As of June 14, 2026, at least six product samples have tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria revealed in those samples matched those found in the outbreak strain.
Additionally, environmental samples of the facility collected by Maryland state partners also tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and matched the outbreak strain.
In addition to Clover Hill Dairy labeled products, other brand names may be included in this recall.
Bulk cheese were sold to other companies, where they are repackaged under individual bulk distributor brand names. Some of which include Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo, Rio Lindo, and Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC.
Recalled Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC cheese was sold in 1 lb plastic clam shell containers at New York retail locations between May 15 and May 28, 2026. Check package carefully or check with dairy department to identify whether products you intend to purchase are associated with the recall.
This recall was initiated following discovering the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in an 18lb plastic container of Clover Hill Dairy Requeson Cheese. The contaminated product included a sell-by date of 6/14/26 and batch #2AA051526 that was repackaged into the recalled 1lb packages.
The initial recall of Clover Hill Dairy products has significantly expanded.
Recalled products include:
After seeing this extensive list, you may be wondering why there are so many products included in this soft cheese Listeria outbreak.
Clover Hill Dairy is large operation, providing product not only under their own brand but to others via wholesale distribution. Other companies purchase their products to make their own or repackage under their own brand name. It is fairly common.
Which is why the recall reaches more than just the Clover Hill Dairy brand.
The reason for such a long list of Clover Hill Dairy products subject to recall involves potential contamination at the facility. It appears that the FDA recommended a full product line recall and Clover Hill Dairy voluntarily complied.
It is better to recall and remove products from store shelves with the existing potential for deadly outcomes.
Listeria is a germ that you do not want to mess with!
Listeria monocytogenes is the bacteria responsible for listeriosis. This serious infection is often associated with contaminated food. In this case, soft cheese.
While anyone can become infected with Listeria, in many cases normally healthy people do not become seriously ill. There are certain groups, however, that are more at risk of becoming sick or experiencing more severe illness.
High-risk groups include:
Listeria bacteria pose additional concern due to their complicated range of symptoms. It affects people who are pregnant differently than those who are not. Each with their own significant complications.
Since Listeria infections generally cause intestinal illness, let us begin there.
One of the most common symptom profiles of Listeria illness involves intestinal illness. Intestinal illness occurs when the bacteria affect the digestive system.
Common symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea beginning within 24 hours of consuming something contaminated with Listeria bacteria. These symptoms are often resolved within three days.
Most people with intestinal Listeria illness do not require medical intervention or antibiotic treatment. Plenty of rest, fluids, and treating the symptoms is your best bet.
Intestinal Listeria illness can evolve to a more invasive illness. This is where things diverge in pregnant and non-pregnant people.
Listeria bacteria cause invasive illness when they leave the digestive system and enter other parts of the body. Invasive listeriosis affects pregnant people and non-pregnant people in different ways. For both categories, invasive illness symptoms usually begin about two weeks after exposure.
While personal symptoms of invasive listeriosis are milder in pregnant people, the impact on the pregnancy poses potentially serious consequences. Someone who is pregnant and experiencing invasive listeriosis may have fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, listeriosis during pregnancy can lead to still birth, premature delivery, miscarriage, or life-threatening infection in the newborn.
Those who are not pregnant have a higher risk of serious illness or death. Invasive listeriosis in non-pregnant people often includes headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Some may also experience fever and/or muscle aches. This infection can be serious or even life-threatening. 1 in 20 nonpregnant people with invasive listeriosis will die from their illness.
If you have consumed soft ricotta cheese, requeson, or Clover Hill Dairy products and experienced illness consistent with listeriosis or become sick with a Listeria infection, you may have been impacted by outbreak.
There are a few things you can do to help your situation.
If you have become sick from eating Clover Hill Dairy products or other soft cheese products associated with this outbreak, get medical help right away. Even mild illnesses can escalate to dangerous or life-threatening infections. In addition to getting the help you need, reporting your illness can help others.
Unreported illnesses are not included in outbreak statistics. If your illness is part of a larger outbreak, your information and food diary can help narrow or expand the scope of a recall. An action that can help reduce the risk of spreading the outbreak to others. Others who may be more vulnerable to life-threatening complications.
As soon as you feel well enough, make a list of the foods you have eaten. Include as much detail as possible. The specific brands. Where did you get it? Where did you eat it? Was it at home, take home, or did you dine out? Are there others who may have consumed the same food? This information is important to outbreak investigators and can help them find other potential food sources responsible for the outbreak. If you have receipts or purchased the items with a store loyalty card, it is a good idea to have those on hand. Investigators may use it in their traceback efforts.
Medical bills, lost work, and other burdens associated with foodborne illnesses like Listeria add up. Who is responsible for those bills? What can you do? What are your rights?
All of these questions can be answered by an experienced Listeria Lawyer. Reach out to a Listeria Lawyer for advice as soon as possible.
If you have fallen sick in this soft cheese Listeria outbreak, you may be eligible for legal compensation.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has helped many families with cases just like yours, help hold accountable those responsible for foodborne illnesses. When a company becomes negligent, people become sick.
Call (833) 330-3663 or submit your information on the online submission form for a free consultation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)