FDA and CDC Issue Warning: Lethal Listeria Detected in Soft Cheese Across Four States

The FDA and CDC have broadened their urgent recall of all cheese products from Clover Hill Dairy following the detection of Listeria monocytogenes, which has led to 12 confirmed infections in four states, including 10 hospitalizations and one fatality. Six samples of requesón, a popular soft ricotta-style cheese sold throughout the Mid-Atlantic, tested positive for the outbreak strain. Additionally, an environmental sample from the production site in Mechanicsville, Maryland, corresponded with the outbreak strain, suggesting widespread contamination within the facility. Listeria poses severe health risks, particularly to pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems, with mortality rates for high-risk populations nearing 20 percent. The FDA has mandated an immediate recall of all Clover Hill Dairy cheese products.