Public health officials are investigating a deadly Listeria outbreak traced to requeson, a soft cheese similar to ricotta.
The multi-state, multi-year outbreak began in 2023 and has sickened eight people across three states — Maryland, New York and Virginia — according to the Food and Drug Administration. Lab samples were collected from sick people from March 6, 2023, through May 9 this year. There have been seven hospitalizations and one death.
Distribution of the implicated cheese has been confirmed in New York, Maryland and Virginia, but it may have been further distributed.
Of seven people interviewed, five reported eating cheese before becoming sick and two reported eating requeson made by Clover Hill Dairy.
On May 13, the Suffolk County Health Department in New York notified the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets of two related Listeria monocytogenes illnesses from the same family, who had purchased food from a local retailer in Brentwood, NY.
The following day, the New York State Department of Health confirmed that both patients had consumed requeson cheese purchased at that retailer.
Investigators from the state agricultural department tested five cheese samples collected from the retailer. One sample of requeson that had been repacked by the retailer tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) confirmed the strain of Listeria found in the requeson cheese matches the strain of Listeria causing illnesses in the two New York patients who reported purchasing cheese from this retailer.
On May 27, the agriculture department conducted an inspection at the retailer's cheese distributor, which identified Clover Hill Dairy LLC of Mechanicsville, MD, as the requeson cheese manufacturer. A sample collected from an unopened 18-pound sealed bucket of requeson manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy LLC also tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes; WGS analysis is pending.
On June 3, Clover Hill Dairy LLC issued a voluntary recall of its requeson/soft ricotta products.
Due to the public health risk, the Maryland Department of Health has suspended the Clover Hill Dairy LLC’s operating license, issued a Consumer Advisory, and is conducting a follow up evaluation in cooperation with the facility.
According to the Maryland consumer advisory, Clover Hill Dairy products are sold directly from their retail market, at farmers markets, and through third- party distributors, including in New York and Virginia. Some varieties may have jalapeño or other flavors. Products may be relabeled under a different brand name when distributed, so consumers are urged to check the manufacturer information on packages, if available. The label should identify the Clover Hill Dairy manufacturer permit (or plant) number as “24-128”.
FDA is in the early stages of this investigation, additional products may be impacted, and further testing by FDA and state partners is underway.
About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look, smell or taste spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled cheese and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.
Also, anyone who has eaten any of the implicated cheese should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.
Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, other complications and death. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.
