Written By | Health News Agencies
The FDA and CDC are investigating a multi-state outbreak tied to requesón — a soft, fresh cheese similar to ricotta, popular in Latin American cooking.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.
A soft, creamy cheese in millions of fridges has been linked to a Listeria outbreak that has killed one person, hospitalized eight more, and quietly simmered across the country for years before investigators connected the dots. The FDA and CDC are investigating a multi-state outbreak tied to requesón — a soft, fresh cheese similar to ricotta, popular in Latin American cooking. Nine people have fallen ill across Maryland, New York and Virginia. Eight hospitalized. One dead. And the contaminated samples stretch back to 2023.
What's been recalled — and why it's confusing
On June 3, Clover Hill Dairy of Maryland recalled all of its Soft Ricotta/Requesón cheese. The Maryland Department of Health suspended the company's license.
Here's the tricky part: the bulk cheese was frequently relabeled or repackaged. It may carry brand names including KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO and RIO LINDO. A second company — Nelson & Isa Lacteos of New York — also recalled requesón sold between May 15 and May 28, 2026. Same dangerous product. Different labels.
Where it was sold
Clover Hill's cheese was distributed between May 4 and May 30, 2026, in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. — through bulk distributors, retail stores and directly to consumers.
Why Listeria is so dangerous
Listeria is not ordinary food poisoning. It's one of the deadliest foodborne infections — with two cruel tricks.
First, its patience. Symptoms can appear the same day — or hide for up to 10 weeks. By the time someone falls seriously ill, the cheese may be long gone.
Second, it grows in the cold. Refrigeration doesn't kill it — just slows it down. That's how a single facility could be tied to cases from 2023 to 2026.
Mild cases: fever, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea. Severe cases: headache, stiff neck, confusion, convulsions — a medical emergency.
Who is truly at risk
Most healthy adults may feel nothing or a brief illness. The real danger is for:
For pregnant women, Listeria can cross the placenta — causing miscarriage, stillbirth, or a life-threatening newborn infection — even if the mother has only mild flu-like symptoms.
What this means for you
Check your refrigerator now. If you have soft ricotta or requesón purchased recently in the affected states — and you're not certain it's safe — throw it away in a sealed bag. Disinfect the shelf where it was stored. Listeria survives on surfaces.
If you're pregnant, over 65, or immunocompromised — watch for symptoms in the weeks ahead. Fever and flu-like symptoms after eating soft cheese? Call a doctor. Mention Listeria. Early antibiotics can be lifesaving.
The bottom line
A creamy everyday cheese has become the center of a deadly, years-long outbreak. The bug behind it is uniquely dangerous — slow to show itself, able to grow in the cold, and catastrophic for the vulnerable.
The good news: prevention is a single act. Check the fridge. Clear out the doubt. Pass the warning along — especially to anyone pregnant, older, or fighting illness.
Not medical advice. If exposed or symptomatic, contact a healthcare professional.
