Soft Ricotta Requesón Recall Tied to Listeria Outbreak: What Shoppers Should Check Now
Shoppers in Maryland, New York, and Virginia should check their refrigerators and freezers now for Clover Hill Dairy requesón/soft ricotta cheese recalled in an ongoing Listeria monocytogenes outbreak investigation. The FDA says the product tested positive through sampling, and consumers should not eat it.
What product is recalled and why
The recalled item is Clover Hill Dairy requesón/soft ricotta cheese made under manufacturer permit number 24-128. The FDA says Listeria monocytogenes was found during sampling tied to the ongoing outbreak investigation. That means this is not just a routine quality issue; it is a food-safety recall with a clear consumer action: discard the cheese.
The FDA also warns that the product may have been relabeled under different brand names, so shoppers should not rely on brand alone. If you bought soft cheese that matches the product description or came from the affected distribution area, check the label carefully before serving it.
Where it was sold
According to the FDA, the recalled cheese was distributed in Maryland, New York, and Virginia. Because some products may have been relabeled, any requesón or soft ricotta from those channels deserves a closer look, especially if it is in your refrigerator, freezer, or a container you repackaged.
Current outbreak totals
The CDC’s outbreak page currently reports 6 illnesses, 5 hospitalizations, and 1 death connected to the soft cheese outbreak. The agencies have linked the recall to an ongoing multistate investigation, so the public health picture is still active. If you are following official updates, the CDC and FDA pages are the best places to check for changes.
What shoppers should do right now
Do not taste the cheese to check it. If you have Clover Hill Dairy requesón/soft ricotta, or a relabeled version that matches the recall, throw it away. If it was stored in the refrigerator or freezer, clean and sanitize the shelves, drawers, containers, and utensils it touched.
Wash your hands well after handling the product or anything it contacted. If the cheese was transferred into another container, discard that container or wash it thoroughly before reuse. Listeria can spread in cold storage and through contaminated surfaces, so cleanup matters even if the cheese is already gone.
If you are not sure whether a soft cheese in your fridge is part of the recall, set it aside and compare the label against the FDA notice before serving it to anyone, especially older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Keep checking official updates
This recall is tied to an active outbreak investigation, so the safest move is to keep an eye on the FDA and CDC notices for any expansion or added product details. For now, the practical step is simple: check the label, throw out the recalled cheese, and sanitize anything it touched.
