Maryland dairy is recalling all cheese products due to possible listeria contamination
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A Maryland dairy company is recalling all of its cheese products after health officials warned they may contain listeria.
Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland, has agreed to voluntarily recall all cheese products it makes, including ricotta, cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper jack and other varieties, according to an announcement Sunday from the Maryland Department of Health.
Health officials said eight listeria infections and one death may be linked to the recalled cheese.
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Ricotta cheese is displayed in a bowl with basil and tomatoes. Clover Hill Dairy has recalled certain ricotta cheese products due to listeria contamination, state health officials said. (iStock / Stock)
“This facility has agreed to initiate a voluntary recall of all of its cheese products,” the Maryland Department of Health said.
The recall expands on previous recalls of Clover Hill soft ricotta cheese sold from May 4 to May 30 in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, DC.
The recalled ricotta was sold in 10-, 12- and 14-ounce clamshell containers. Some packages may list plant number 24-128 on the label. The cheese was sold through stores, wholesale distributors and direct-to-consumer sales, according to a June 9 notice from the US Food and Drug Administration.
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This photo shows Clover Hill Dairy's soft ricotta with a bowl of jalapeños.
The recalled cheese may have been sold in bulk in 5-gallon and 2-liter buckets and repackaged under other brand names, including KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO and RIO LINDO.
Maryland health officials suspended the dairy's license on May 30 because of the public health risk.
Listeria can cause fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea. Bacteria can be especially dangerous for young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, listeria can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, according to the FDA.
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Clover Hill Dairy's retail price list shows several types of cheese sold by the Maryland dairy. (Maryland Department of Health)
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Consumers who purchased the returned cheese should not eat it and should return it to the place of purchase in its original packaging for a full refund.
“The Clover Hill Dairy board and employees deeply apologize for any inconvenience and difficulty caused by this recall, and we sincerely hope to resolve this issue as soon as possible,” the company said in a June 9 recall statement.
Clover Hill Dairy could not immediately be reached by FOX Business for comment.
