Clover Hill Dairy Expands Recall Due To Listeria Risk; 1 Death Reported

MECHANICSVILLE, MD — Clover Hill Dairy is expanding a recall to include all of its brand cheeses due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria linked to nine illnesses, eight hospitalizations and one death, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials.

The recall has been expanded to cover all Clover Hill Dairy cheese products, including a wide range of hard and soft varieties such as ricotta, cuajada, cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby, Pepper Jack, smoked cheeses and flavored products including Old Bay and horseradish, according to a new release from the FD.

A voluntary recall was initially announced by the agency on June 3 for Clover Hill Dairy's soft ricotta cheese products due to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

On Sunday, the health department announced that another 28 varieties of cheese made by the Maryland dairy have been flagged due to the Listeria strain. They included items listed as soft and semi-soft "Spanish Style," smoked cheddar, and mild and hard cheeses, among other selections.

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On Thursday, the recall was to include all of Clover Hill's cheese products.

Customers should not eat, sell or serve the recalled cheese and to discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund, FDA officials said.

The products were distributed through the company’s retail market, farmers markets and third-party distributors across North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Some items may also have been relabeled under other brands, including KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO and RIO LINDO, according to a news release.

Health officials said Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious illness, particularly in young children, older adults, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea and infections can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant individuals.

See a full list of Clover Hill Dairy products included in the recall online.

More information can be found on the FDA website.