A multi-state Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to soft cheese has left one person dead and seven hospitalized — and federal regulators warn the contaminated product may have traveled farther than anyone yet knows. If you or a loved one became seriously ill after eating recalled Clover Hill Dairy cheese, you may have important legal rights. Call Howell Law Firm PC today at 888-712-0017 for a free consultation about your case.
The Basic Facts of the Recall
In early June 2026, Clover Hill Dairy, LLC of Mechanicsville, Maryland issued a voluntary recall of all of its Soft Ricotta/Requesón cheese after testing identified Listeria monocytogenes in the product. The FDA and CDC, working with state health departments, are investigating a multi-state, multi-year outbreak potentially linked to the cheese.
Here is what investigators have reported so far:
- 8 confirmed illnesses across three states (Maryland, New York, and Virginia), with samples collected from March 6, 2023 through May 9, 2026
- 7 hospitalizations and 1 death
- The recalled cheese was distributed from May 4, 2026 through May 30, 2026 in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. — but the FDA cautions the product could have been distributed further, reaching additional states
- Retail packages were sold in 10-, 12-, and 14-ounce clamshell containers under the Clover Hill Dairy brand, identifiable by plant number 24-128 on the label
- Bulk 2- and 5-gallon buckets were sold to distributors who repackaged the cheese under other brand names, including KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, and RIO LINDO
The outbreak came to light after two members of the same New York family fell ill. Whole genome sequencing confirmed that the Listeria strain found in requesón cheese purchased at a Brentwood, NY retailer matched the strain making people sick. A sealed, unopened bucket of Clover Hill requesón later tested positive as well. The Maryland Department of Health has since suspended Clover Hill Dairy’s operating license.
Because repackaged cheese may not carry the Clover Hill name, consumers should check labels for manufacturer permit number 24-128 — and when in doubt, throw it out.
Symptoms and Injuries Caused by Listeria
Listeriosis is one of the most dangerous foodborne illnesses. While healthy adults may experience only mild symptoms, the infection can be devastating — even fatal — for vulnerable people.
Common symptoms include:
- Fever and muscle aches
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Severe headache and fatigue
- Abdominal pain
Severe (invasive) listeriosis can cause:
- Stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance
- Convulsions and seizures
- Meningitis and sepsis (bloodstream infection)
- Death
Symptoms usually appear within two weeks of eating contaminated food, but can begin the same day or as long as 10 weeks later. That long incubation period means many people never connect their illness to the food that caused it.
Pregnant women face unique dangers. Even a mild Listeria infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection in the newborn. Adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems are also at high risk for severe illness. If you or a family member experienced any of these symptoms after eating soft ricotta or requesón cheese, seek medical care right away and ask your doctor about testing for Listeria.
California Law Protects Victims of Contaminated Food
California offers some of the strongest consumer protections in the nation for people injured by contaminated food products.
Strict products liability. Under California law, food is a “product,” and contaminated food is a defective product. Since the California Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Greenman v. Yuba Power Products (1963), manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in the chain of distribution can be held strictly liable for injuries caused by a defective product. That means an injured consumer does not have to prove the company was careless — only that the product was contaminated when it left the defendant’s control and caused the injury. Everyone in the supply chain, from the dairy to the distributor who repackaged the cheese to the store that sold it, can potentially be held responsible.
Negligence. Victims may also pursue claims that a food producer failed to use reasonable care in manufacturing, testing, sanitation, or distribution. Evidence such as a suspended operating license or unsanitary plant conditions can be powerful proof of negligence.
Breach of implied warranty. Under California Commercial Code sections 2314 and 2315, food sold to consumers carries an implied warranty that it is fit for human consumption. Cheese contaminated with a deadly pathogen plainly breaches that warranty.
The Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law (California Health & Safety Code § 109875 et seq.) makes it unlawful to manufacture, sell, or deliver adulterated food in California. Food containing a dangerous pathogen like Listeria is “adulterated” under the law, and violations can support an injured consumer’s civil claim.
Wrongful death. When a Listeria infection turns fatal, California’s wrongful death statute (Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60) allows surviving spouses, children, and other dependents to recover damages for their loss.
Deadlines matter. In California, personal injury and wrongful death claims are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). Waiting too long can permanently bar your claim — another reason to speak with an attorney promptly.
Victims may be entitled to recover medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and, in wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of financial support and companionship.
Why You Need an Experienced Food Poisoning Lawyer
Food poisoning cases look simple, but they are anything but. Here’s why having a lawyer in your corner matters:
Proving causation requires science. Connecting your illness to a specific product typically requires medical records, stool or blood cultures, and genetic matching of the bacterial strain — the same whole genome sequencing the CDC used in this outbreak. An experienced attorney knows how to obtain and preserve this evidence before it disappears.
Evidence vanishes quickly. Recalled products get destroyed, receipts get tossed, and companies’ internal records can become hard to obtain. A lawyer can act immediately to preserve packaging, purchase records, and health department findings.
Multiple defendants, multiple insurers. This recall involves a manufacturer, bulk distributors, repackagers selling under at least five different brand names, and retailers across several states. Identifying every responsible party — and every available insurance policy — is critical to full compensation.
Insurance companies fight back. Recalls of this magnitude expose companies to significant liability, and their insurers work hard to minimize payouts. An experienced attorney levels the playing field and knows what your claim is truly worth.
You pay nothing unless you win. Food poisoning cases are typically handled on a contingency fee basis, so there is no upfront cost to get experienced representation.
Sickened After Eating Recalled Cheese? Call Howell Law Firm PC Today
If you or someone you love was hospitalized, suffered a pregnancy loss, or lost a family member after eating Clover Hill Dairy soft ricotta or requesón cheese — including cheese sold under the KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, or RIO LINDO brands — you may be entitled to significant compensation.
Don’t wait. Evidence fades, deadlines run, and the companies responsible are already preparing their defense.
Call Howell Law Firm PC now at 888-712-0017 for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Our team will listen to your story, explain your rights under the law, and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Sources: FDA Company Recall Announcement (June 9, 2026); FDA Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Soft Cheese (June 2026); CDC outbreak data.
This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; past results do not guarantee future outcomes.