Listeria Outbreak Linked to Soft Cheese Expands: What Shoppers Need to Check Now
CDC and FDA officials are warning shoppers about a multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to soft cheese, including requesón and soft ricotta cheese. The clearest consumer action right now is to check your refrigerator for any recalled soft cheese tied to the Clover Hill Dairy voluntary recall and follow the official disposal instructions.
If you have this product at home, do not eat it. Throw it away or follow the return and disposal steps in the recall notice. Then clean and sanitize any shelves, containers, utensils, or food storage areas that may have touched the cheese.
What to check in your fridge
Look for soft cheeses, especially products labeled requesón or soft ricotta. These cheeses may be sold in tubs or other refrigerated packages, so check labels carefully if you bought a soft cheese recently. Use the product details in the CDC and FDA notices to match any brand, package, or identifying information listed in the recall.
The CDC says this outbreak is under active investigation, and the FDA has linked the illness reports to soft cheese products under review. If you are not sure whether a package matches the recall, do not taste it to check. When in doubt, set it aside and compare it with the official notice before serving it.
Why soft cheese is a concern
Soft cheeses can be higher risk for Listeria because they can support bacterial growth and are often eaten without a later cooking step that would kill germs. That is why this type of product gets special attention during outbreak investigations. For families, that means a small item in the fridge can still be important to check carefully.
Who should be especially careful
Pregnant people, older adults, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for serious illness from Listeria. Even if symptoms seem mild at first, the infection can become serious. If someone in one of these groups may have eaten the recalled cheese, it is smart to watch closely and act quickly if illness starts.
When to get medical help
Contact a healthcare provider promptly if you may have eaten the recalled cheese and feel sick, especially with fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting. Listeria can cause serious illness, so do not wait if symptoms develop after possible exposure.
For now, the safest move is simple: check your soft cheeses, discard any recalled product, clean the surfaces it touched, and keep an eye on the latest CDC and FDA updates for the most current affected products and instructions.
