Urgent Recall of All Clover Hill Dairy Cheeses
Clover Hill Dairy has expanded its mass recall to include all cheese products after a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to its soft ricotta/requeson cheese. The outbreak has resulted in nine illnesses, eight hospitalisations, and one death, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Products Recalled and Affected States
The recall now covers all Clover Hill Dairy cheeses currently on the market, including cheddar, colby, monterey jack, pepper jack, ricotta, smoked cheeses, and soft cheeses. These products were distributed in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington DC. Some items may have been sold under brand names such as KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, and RIO LINDO.
Health Risks and Symptoms
Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms typically appear within two weeks of consuming contaminated food but can start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after. Healthy individuals may experience short-term symptoms like high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. Pregnant women are at heightened risk; while their illness may be mild, Listeria can lead to pregnancy loss or premature birth and cause serious illness or death in newborns. Others may suffer from headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Consumer Action Required
The FDA urges anyone with Clover Hill Dairy products to discard them immediately or return them to the point of purchase. After disposal, consumers should thoroughly clean and sanitise their refrigerators following guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends removing all food, washing removable parts with hot soapy water, cleaning the interior with hot soapy water and rinsing, then sanitising with a solution of one tablespoon of liquid bleach per gallon of water. Hands and any surfaces that contacted the recalled food should also be washed.
Complete List of Recalled Cheeses
- Cuajada
- Soft Cuajada
- Soft Cuajada in Brine
- Soft Cuajada Crumbs
- Ricotta/Requesón
- Mild Cheese Varieties: Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, Monterey Jack, Marble Jack, Fresh Cheddar Curd, Snack Pack (Assorted), 3-in-A-Pack (Assorted)
- Hard Cheese Varieties: Yummy Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Colby, Snack Pack Sharp Stix
- Smoked Cheddar Cheese Varieties: Cheddar, White Cheddar
- Flavoured Cheeses: Horseradish-Old Bay Cheddar
- Pepper Cheese Varieties: Jalapeno Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Sizzlin' Colby (with Habanero Peppers), Snack Pack Assorted Pepper Stix, 3-in-A-Pack Assorted
- Smoked Pepper Cheese Varieties: Jalapeno Cheddar
