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There’s sour news in the dairy aisle.
One person has died and at least eight others have been hospitalized in a listeria outbreak linked to soft cheese, with officials saying the true number of illnesses is likely higher.
Federal health authorities are now urging consumers to steer clear of the recalled products, which were sold under multiple brand names and distributed across several states — including New York.
Listeriosis is a disease caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria bacteria, which can spread through a wide range of foods, including deli meats, cheese and raw fruits and vegetables.
It typically causes mild symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, diarrhea or vomiting. However, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, young children and adults over 65 face a higher risk of severe, potentially life-threatening complications, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The latest outbreak has been traced to requesón, a soft cheese similar to ricotta, manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy in Mechanicsville, Maryland.
The cheese was distributed from May 4 through May 30 in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, DC, reaching consumers through bulk distributors, retail stores and direct sales.
Notably, however, the Food and Drug Administration said the affected products may have been distributed beyond the locations currently known to the agency.
It’s also still unclear whether the cheese is the only contaminated product linked to the outbreak, which stretches back to 2023. Officials say more items could be added to the list as their investigation continues.
To date, nine people have fallen ill in connection with the listeria outbreak across Maryland, New York and Virginia. Eight have been hospitalized, and one person has died.
“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a June 9 update.
“This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria,” the agency explained. “ In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”
In the wake of the outbreak, Clover Hill Dairy has issued a voluntary recall of its products.
The company’s requesón cheese was sold in retail-size packaging, including 10-, 12- and 14-ounce clamshell containers. Clover Hill has also recalled bulk products, including 2-gallon and 5-gallon buckets.
However, the FDA cautioned that the listeria-positive batch was likely repackaged and relabeled under different brand names during distribution, including but not limited to Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo and Rio Lindo.
Because of this, officials are urging consumers to check product labels for manufacturer information to determine whether items are included in the recall. Labels may list Clover Hill Dairy’s manufacturer permit number as “24-128.”
Another distributor, New York-based Nelson & Isa Lacteos, also recalled one-pound packages of requesón sold in clamshell containers.
The cheese may also be sold in flavors such as jalapeño.
“Do not eat, sell or serve recalled soft ricotta/requeson cheese,” the FDA advised in a June 9 update.
Consumers should either discard the product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
“If you froze cheese without the original packaging and can’t tell if it is part of the recall, throw it away,” the agency said.
“Consumers, restaurants, and retailers who purchased or received recalled cheese including wholesale products, should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched.”
Symptoms of listeriosis can appear anywhere from a few days to two weeks after eating contaminated food. In invasive cases — when Listeria spreads beyond the digestive system — patients may experience more severe symptoms, including confusion, loss of balance, stiff neck and even seizures.
Pregnant women typically experience only mild illness such as fever, fatigue and muscle aches. However, the infection can be passed onto the fetus, increasing the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature delivery.
If symptoms develop, the FDA is urging consumers to contact a healthcare provider.
Mild intestinal cases often resolve on their own within a few days with rest and fluids. But severe or invasive infections — especially in higher-risk patients — are typically treated with antibiotics.
Complications of listeriosis can include inflammation of the heart, brain, bones and abdominal organs, as well as pneumonia, sepsis, urinary tract infections and septicemia, when bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body.
If you’re born with listeriosis or if you get an infection that spreads to your brain or causes sepsis, you could have long-lasting health conditions. These include developmental delays, blindness, organ damage and paralysis.
About 1 in 6 people with invasive listeriosis die from the infection, according to the CDC.
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