Empty refrigerated dairy case with recall notices in a Mechanicsville, Maryland grocery store.
Clover Hill Dairy in Mechanicsville, Maryland, has initiated a comprehensive recall of all its cheese products, including ricotta, cheddar, Monterey Jack, and pepper jack varieties, following warnings from health officials about potential listeria contamination. The recall comes after eight listeria infections and one reported death were potentially linked to the dairy’s products.
The Maryland Department of Health announced that the facility has agreed to a voluntary recall of its entire product line. This action significantly expands a previous recall that focused on Clover Hill soft ricotta cheese sold between May 4 and May 30 in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
The recalled ricotta was sold in 10-, 12-, and 14-ounce clamshell containers, with some packages marked with plant number 24-128. The cheese was distributed through retail stores, bulk distributors, and direct-to-consumer sales. Additionally, the recalled cheese may have been repackaged under various brand names, including KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, and RIO LINDO, and sold in bulk 5-gallon and 2-gallon buckets.
Due to the public health risk, Maryland health officials suspended Clover Hill Dairy’s license on May 30. Listeria infection symptoms include fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The bacteria pose a particular danger to young children, older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems, with potential for miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled cheese are advised not to consume it and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Clover Hill Dairy has issued an apology for the inconvenience and hardship caused by the recall, expressing a commitment to resolving the issue safely.
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