Listeria monocytogenes is not like most foodborne bacteria. It grows at refrigerator temperatures. It can cause no symptoms at all — or symptoms that feel like the flu — in otherwise healthy adults. And in pregnant people, it can silently infect a fetus and cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection in a newborn, with symptoms in the mother that may not appear severe.
The Clover Hill Dairy Listeria outbreak is currently active. Twelve people have been infected, 10 hospitalized, and one person has died. Eighty-eight percent of interviewed patients identified as Hispanic — consistent with requesón being a staple soft cheese in many Hispanic households. The contamination spans at least three years, from March 2023 through June 2026. And critically, Listeria has a documented incubation period of up to 70 days.
That means if you consumed any recalled Clover Hill Dairy requesón or related products in the past two months — you are still within the exposure window.
Why This Matters
Pregnancy dramatically changes the risk calculus for Listeria. Pregnant people are approximately 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to develop listeriosis. The infection kills approximately 20% of those it infects overall — but in pregnant patients, the consequences extend beyond the mother.
Listeria can cross the fetal-placental barrier, infecting a fetus whose immune system is not equipped to fight it. The outcomes include miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, and life-threatening neonatal sepsis or meningitis in a surviving newborn. Critically, the mother may not appear severely ill — a flu-like illness with fever and muscle aches can precede fetal loss by days.
This is why the guidance for pregnant people who consumed recalled products is different from the guidance for the general public: contact your OB-GYN even if you have no symptoms.
What We Know So Far
From the FDA’s active outbreak investigation page, CDC’s outbreak page, and AARP’s coverage:
- Confirmed cases: 12 in Illinois (1), Maryland (3), New York (5), and Virginia (3) as of June 24, 2026
- Hospitalizations: 10
- Deaths: 1 (Maryland)
- Illness onset dates: March 6, 2023, through June 2, 2026 — a multi-year contamination
- Patient demographics: Ages 16 to 81; median age 55; 88% identified as Hispanic
- Incubation period: 1 to 70 days (Listeria has one of the longest incubation windows of any foodborne pathogen)
- Distribution: Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington D.C. — may extend to additional states
- Recalled brands: Clover Hill Dairy requesón (permit number 24-128); KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, and RIO LINDO (repackaged); Requesón Salvadoreño (La Colonia brand) and Requesón Mexicano (Selectos Latinos brand) — all recalled
Where the Risk Is Highest
The primary geographic risk zone is Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., New York, and New Jersey — where Clover Hill Dairy’s distribution is confirmed. Farmers markets, small Latin grocery stores, and specialty food retailers in Hispanic-concentrated communities are the highest-risk procurement settings.
Within these areas, the highest-risk individuals are pregnant people in Hispanic communities where requesón is a culturally common food — obtained from farmers markets, community retailers, or shared at family gatherings where the brand or manufacturer origin may not be clearly labeled.
What Doctors and Experts Say
“Listeria can sicken an unborn baby because it can cross the fetal-placental barrier, which normally protects the fetus,” said Sana Mujahid, a food safety researcher, in Consumer Reports coverage of the outbreak. “Soft cheeses are prone to Listeria contamination, which is why it’s safest to avoid all ricotta, queso, and other soft versions while you’re pregnant.”
Clinicians emphasize that the symptom picture in pregnant listeriosis is deceptive. Fever, muscle aches, and fatigue — the most common presentation — may be dismissed as minor illness or normal pregnancy discomfort, delaying evaluation that could be lifesaving for the fetus.
What the Evidence Shows — and What It Does Not
MedicalDaily Evidence Check
- Outbreak source: Clover Hill Dairy requesón — confirmed by whole-genome sequencing matching Listeria in cheese to patient isolates
- Cases confirmed: 12 in 4 states; investigation ongoing
- Incubation window: Up to 70 days — meaning anyone who consumed recalled products in the past 10 weeks is still within the risk window
- Pregnancy risk: 20x higher than non-pregnant adults; fetal infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or neonatal death
- What the evidence does not include: A publicly confirmed specific pregnancy loss case in the current outbreak data reviewed at this time
- What readers should know: Pregnant people who consumed any recalled requesón should contact their OB-GYN now, regardless of symptom status
Who Faces the Greatest Risk?
- Pregnant people — the highest-risk group for severe Listeria outcomes
- Adults 65 and older
- Immunocompromised individuals (cancer treatment, HIV, organ transplant)
- Newborns — can be infected during delivery from a mother with active listeriosis
- Residents in the recall distribution states who may have consumed requesón from small retailers, farmers markets, or household sharing
Symptoms and Warning Signs to Watch For
In pregnant people — contact your OB-GYN immediately for:
- Fever, especially if unexplained
- Muscle aches, especially severe
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Stiff neck, headache, confusion (signs of meningitis)
- Reduced fetal movement
In the general population— seek medical evaluation for:
- Fever and muscle aches within 70 days of consuming soft requesón
- Stiff neck, headache, confusion, or loss of balance (possible meningitis)
- Diarrhea or gastrointestinal symptoms that do not resolve within days
What You Can Do Now
- If you are pregnant and have consumed any requesón, soft ricotta, or soft Latin-style cheese in the past 10 weeks, contact your OB-GYN today regardless of whether you have symptoms. Early detection and antibiotic treatment can prevent fetal complications.
- Check your refrigerator for recalled products. Look for permit number 24-128 on any soft cheese label. Discard any cheese with this permit number immediately.
- Do not eat requesón or soft ricotta labeled with the brand names KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, RIO LINDO, La Colonia (Requesón Salvadoreño), or Selectos Latinos (Requesón Mexicano).
- Clean your refrigerator thoroughly if it contained any recalled product. Listeria grows at refrigerator temperatures and can contaminate other foods and surfaces. Use hot soapy water followed by a sanitizing solution of 1 tablespoon bleach per gallon of water.
- Report any illness you believe may be related to this product to the FDA MedWatch program or your local health department.
Cost and Access: What Patients Should Know
Listeria testing is conducted through blood culture ordered by a physician and is covered by most insurance plans and Medicaid. For patients without a primary care provider or OB-GYN, community health centers in the affected distribution states offer sliding-scale evaluation.
Treatment for listeriosis requires IV antibiotics, typically administered in a hospital setting for serious cases. Pregnant women with documented Listeria exposure may be offered prophylactic antibiotic treatment even before confirmation — discuss the option with your OB-GYN.
What Happens Next
The FDA investigation is ongoing. Additional products may be added to the recall as testing continues. The Maryland Department of Health has suspended Clover Hill Dairy’s operating license. MedicalDaily will update this story immediately if new cases, additional recalls, or confirmed pregnancy-related outcomes are officially reported.
The Bottom Line
The Clover Hill Dairy Listeria outbreak is active, has killed one person, hospitalized ten, and affects a community — Hispanic families purchasing requesón through farmers markets and small grocery stores — whose supply chain sits outside the mainstream retail tracking systems that normally catch contamination faster. For pregnant people who consumed any recalled soft cheese in the past 10 weeks: do not wait for symptoms to appear. Contact your OB-GYN today. The 70-day incubation period means the window of risk is still open.
