A multi-year Listeria outbreak has been linked to requeson cheese, with at least 8 people sick, 7 hospitalized, and 1 dead across 3 states. The same strain has been making people sick since at least 2023.
Need a Texas Listeria Food Poisoning Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you got sick after eating requeson or soft cheese, contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
Requeson Cheese Linked to Deadly Listeria Outbreak
In June 2026, the FDA and CDC announced that they were investigating a multi-state, multi-year outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections that has been linked to requeson, a soft cheese similar to ricotta, manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland.
Clover Hill Dairy Recalls Cheese Linked to Listeria Outbreak
On June 3, 2026, Clover Hill Dairy announced a voluntary recall of its requeson and soft ricotta cheese products. Due to the public health risk, the Maryland Department of Health has suspended the company’s operating license and issued a consumer advisory.
Two days later on June 5, Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC of Bayshore, New York, recalled 1-pound packages of requeson after state inspectors found Listeria in an 18-pound container of Clover Hill Dairy requeson that had been repacked into smaller containers.
What Is the Listeria Risk?
Listeria monocytogenes causes an infection called listeriosis. It is especially harmful to pregnant women, people 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, the infection has been linked to pregnancy loss, premature birth, and life-threatening infections in newborns.
Symptoms typically begin within 2 weeks of eating contaminated food, but can start as late as 10 weeks after exposure. The warning signs can include:
- High fever
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion and loss of balance
- Muscle aches and tiredness
- Nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea
That long delay is part of what makes Listeria so dangerous, since many people never connect a severe illness to cheese they ate weeks earlier.
Which Products Are Affected?
Health officials have identified the following recalled products:
- Clover Hill Dairy requeson and soft ricotta cheese, including jalapeño and other flavored varieties (manufacturer permit number “24-128”)
- Nelson & Isa Lacteos requeson cheese in 1-pound plastic clamshell packages
Clover Hill Dairy requeson may be relabeled under different brand names, so consumers should check the manufacturer information on the package where available.
Where Was It Sold?
The Clover Hill Dairy requeson was sold from the company’s retail market, at farmers markets, and through other distributors, including in New York and Virginia. The Nelson & Isa requeson was sold at New York retail locations from May 15 to May 28, 2026.
Federal officials recommend that anyone with recalled soft cheese at home not eat it and throw it away, then sanitize any refrigerators, containers, and surfaces it may have touched. For updates, the CDC outbreak page is being updated as the investigation continues.
How Many People Were Affected?
As of early June 2026, 8 people across 3 states (Maryland, New York, and Virginia) have been infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria. 7 have been hospitalized, and 1 person in Maryland has died.
Previous Listeria Outbreaks Linked to Soft Cheese
This is part of a troubling pattern with Listeria contamination in soft cheeses. In 2024, the FDA and CDC linked a deadly outbreak of Listeria to queso fresco and cotija cheese made by Rizo-López Foods of Modesto, California. That outbreak spanned 11 states with 26 illnesses, 23 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths, including one death in Texas, along with one pregnancy loss.
Another Deadly Listeria Outbreak Linked to El Abuelito Cheese
In 2021, Listeria in queso fresco made by El Abuelito Cheese Inc. sickened 13 people in 4 states, with 12 hospitalizations and 1 death. That recall was expanded to include the company’s quesillo and requeson cheeses.
Legal Help for Listeria Victims in Texas
Requeson, queso fresco, and other soft Hispanic-style cheeses are widely sold at grocery stores, Latino markets, and farmers markets across Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and the Rio Grande Valley. When these products are contaminated with Listeria, the consequences for Texas families can be severe.
The 2024 queso fresco outbreak already claimed a life in Texas, and the current requeson outbreak has been linked to a death in Maryland. Because soft cheese is sold and relabeled under many brand names, Texans may not realize the cheese they bought is connected to a recall.
Texans who were sickened by recalled requeson or soft cheese may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. A Texas food poisoning lawyer can help you understand your legal options.
Need a Texas Listeria Lawsuit?
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