Clover Hill Recall: When to Throw Out Cheese and Watch for Listeria

If you have cheese from Clover Hill Dairy or a distributor brand in your fridge or freezer, do not rely on the words soft cheese alone. In June 2026, the recall expanded beyond the original soft ricotta and requesón products to all cheeses made by Clover Hill Dairy, and FDA later added downstream products sold under other brand names.

The practical answer is simple: compare the cheese you have at home with the current CDC and FDA product lists. If it matches a recalled product, or if you cannot tell because the cheese was repackaged or frozen without its label, do not eat it. Throw it out or return it to the store.

What changed in 2026

The first public recall notices focused on Clover Hill soft ricotta and requesón. Then FDA said on June 18, 2026, that Clover Hill expanded the recall to include all cheese products made at the facility, including requesón, cuajada, ricotta, and hard cheeses. FDA also says some products may have been relabeled under other brand names, including KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, and RIO LINDO. On June 26, 2026, a separate recall covered certain La Ceiba Foods requesón products sold under the La Colonia and Selectos Latinos brands.

CDC’s outbreak page was updated June 29, 2026, and says the investigation is still ongoing. The latest epidemiologic counts posted on that page were dated June 24, 2026: 12 people sickened in 4 states, 10 hospitalizations, and 1 reported death. CDC also says the true number of illnesses may be higher and that additional cheeses could still be identified.

Do you need to throw it out?

Maybe, but only after you check the official details. The safest way to decide is to compare:

the product name or cheese type,
the brand name on the label, including distributor or store brands,
where and when it was sold, if you know that information, and
the manufacturer permit or plant number, if it appears on the package.

FDA says Clover Hill clamshell packages may show manufacturer permit number 24-128. FDA also says some recalled products may have been relabeled by distributors, which is why checking only the cheese type is not enough.

What to do with recalled cheese

CDC and FDA say not to eat, sell, or serve recalled cheese. If you still have the original package, compare it with the official recall pages and either return it or dispose of it. If you froze cheese without the label and cannot tell whether it is part of the recall, FDA says to throw it away.

FDA also advises consumers, retailers, and restaurants to carefully clean and sanitize any refrigerator shelves, drawers, containers, knives, cutting boards, or other surfaces the cheese touched. That matters because Listeria can survive at refrigerator temperatures and spread to other foods and surfaces.

What symptoms should make you call a clinician?

CDC’s symptom guidance says to contact a healthcare provider if both of these are true: you ate food that was recalled or linked to an outbreak, and you now have a fever plus other symptoms of listeriosis, such as fatigue and muscle aches. CDC says symptoms of invasive illness usually start within about 2 weeks after eating contaminated food. FDA says they may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks later.

CDC and FDA say symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. More severe illness can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. If symptoms include confusion, loss of balance, stiff neck, or seizures, seek urgent medical care.

If you ate possibly contaminated cheese but feel fine, CDC says most experts believe you do not need tests or treatment just because of the exposure. If you are unsure what to do, especially if you are pregnant, age 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system, it is reasonable to call a clinician and ask how they want you to monitor symptoms.

Who should have a lower threshold to call?

CDC says people at higher risk for severe listeriosis include pregnant people, adults age 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. ACOG also notes that pregnancy raises the risk of listeriosis and that even mild symptoms in a pregnant patient can still matter because infection can affect the fetus or newborn.

That caution is backed by more than outbreak alerts alone. A 2022 umbrella review indexed in PubMed found that pregnancy-associated listeriosis is linked to serious maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications, including miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and newborn infection. That review was not specific to the Clover Hill outbreak, but it helps explain why obstetric guidance urges a low threshold to report possible exposure and symptoms during pregnancy.

What to tell the clinician

If you call, try to have these details ready:

the exact cheese name and brand,
whether the package listed Clover Hill Dairy or plant number 24-128,
when and where you bought it,
when you ate it,
what symptoms you have and when they started, and
whether you are pregnant, older, immunocompromised, or caring for someone who is.

That information can help a clinician decide whether your symptoms fit a routine stomach illness, possible listeriosis, or another problem that needs testing or treatment.

What readers can do now

Recheck any fresh or frozen cheese you bought recently against the current CDC and FDA lists.
Do not assume a product is safe because it is not labeled “soft cheese.”
If a product may be part of the recall and you cannot confirm otherwise, do not eat it.
Clean and sanitize anything the cheese touched.
Call a clinician if recalled-food exposure is followed by fever and other listeriosis symptoms, especially in pregnancy, older age, or immunocompromising conditions.

What remains uncertain is whether the outbreak investigation will grow further. CDC and FDA both say the investigation is ongoing, which means the product list can change. For readers, that makes the latest official update more useful than an older social post, an early recall notice, or a guess based on the kind of cheese alone.

Sources

Editorial note: Weence articles are researched from cited public-health, medical, regulatory, journal, and reputable news sources and may be drafted with AI assistance. They are checked for source support, clarity, and safety guardrails before publication.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Research findings can be early or incomplete, and health guidance can change. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional about personal symptoms, diagnosis, medications, vaccines, screenings, or treatment decisions. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call emergency services right away.