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CDC Warns Consumers to Check Recalled Soft Cheese After Listeria Outbreak
A CDC advisory linked a multistate Listeria outbreak to recalled soft cheeses. Here is what home cooks should check, discard and clean in the kitchen.
The latest CDC advisory on a Listeria outbreak linked to soft cheese remains an important refrigerator check for households that buy fresh, farmers-market or repacked cheese. The advisory covers several recalls, including products sold under different names, and tells consumers not to eat, serve or sell the affected cheese.
As of the CDC update dated June 29, 2026, 12 people in four states had been infected with the outbreak strain. Ten people had been hospitalized and one death had been reported. The illness specimens were collected between March 6, 2023, and June 2, 2026. The FDA investigation says testing found Listeria monocytogenes in six requeson cheese samples and an environmental sample, with results matching the outbreak strain.
Which cheeses are involved?
The widest recall concerns Clover Hill Dairy cheese. The FDA says all Clover Hill Dairy brand cheese currently on the market is included, covering soft and semi-soft Spanish-style cheeses such as cuajada and ricotta or requeson, as well as cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, pepper cheeses and smoked varieties. Products may have been repackaged or relabeled under other names, including Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo and Rio Lindo.
Clover Hill products were distributed in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and the agencies note that distribution may have reached additional locations. A separate recall from La Ceiba Foods Latin Market covered La Colonia Requeson Salvadoreño, Selectos Latinos Requeson Salvadoreño and Selectos Latinos Requeson Mexicano sold in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Nelson & Isa Lacteos also recalled requeson sold at New York retail locations between May 15 and May 28, 2026.
Brand names alone are not a reliable way to clear a product. The cheese may have been transferred into a store container or sold under a different label. If the original packaging is available, check the manufacturer information and the plant number listed by the FDA. Clover Hill clamshell labels should identify permit number 24-128, but consumers should still compare the full product information with the recall notices.
What to do if you find it at home
- Do not taste it. Do not use recalled cheese in tacos, dips, salads, lasagna or any other cooked dish. The agencies’ instruction is to discard or return it, not to repurpose it.
- Keep it separate. If you discover the cheese while unpacking groceries, place the container in a sealed bag so it does not touch other food or refrigerator surfaces.
- Return or discard it. Follow the retailer’s return process, or throw the product away. If the cheese was frozen without its original packaging and you cannot determine whether it is part of the recall, the FDA says to discard it.
- Clean the contact points. Wash your hands, then clean and sanitize shelves, drawers, containers, cutting boards and utensils that may have touched the cheese. Listeria can survive in a refrigerator and spread to other foods. The FDA’s safe-handling guidance explains the cleaning sequence and product instructions.
Do not assume that a product is safe simply because it looks, smells or tastes normal. Listeria contamination cannot be reliably identified by appearance, and the recalled cheese may have been repacked after leaving the manufacturer.
Why the warning matters for some households
Listeria infection can affect anyone, but the risk of severe illness is higher for people who are pregnant, adults aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. The CDC advises people in these groups not to eat recalled cheese and to be especially cautious with queso fresco-type cheeses, including soft ricotta and requeson, even when the product is described as pasteurized.
Symptoms may begin within two weeks of eating contaminated food, although the CDC says they can appear as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks afterward. Fever, muscle aches and tiredness can be mild in pregnancy but still require prompt medical advice because Listeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth or serious illness in a newborn. Other symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, vomiting or diarrhea.
If someone in your household develops symptoms after eating recalled cheese, contact a healthcare provider and mention the possible exposure. People who are pregnant should call their healthcare provider promptly even if symptoms seem mild.
The practical kitchen takeaway
This is a food-safety check, not a reason to empty every cheese drawer. Focus on fresh soft cheese, farmers-market purchases, bulk containers and products that may have been repacked. Check the official CDC and FDA notices before serving cheese to guests, particularly when cooking for pregnant people, older adults or anyone immunocompromised.
For now, the safest routine is simple: verify the label, isolate anything uncertain, discard recalled products and sanitize every surface they touched. The FDA investigation is ongoing, so check the official advisory again before relying on an older label or assuming that a familiar brand name is sufficient.