Clover Hill Dairy all-cheese recall: if you see 24-128, stop eating it and clean the fridge

Confirmation Standard

• Checked at: 2026-06-20 17:50 KST
• Primary sources: FDA June 18, 2026 expanded recall announcement, FDA outbreak investigation, CDC outbreak advisory, and Maryland Department of Health consumer advisory
• Confirmed distribution: Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.; FDA notes product could have moved further.
• Main identifier: Clover Hill Dairy manufacturer or plant number 24-128, Clover Hill Dairy labeling, or possible relabeled brands KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, RIO LINDO.
• Products to check: all current-market Clover Hill Dairy cheese products, including requeson, cuajada, ricotta-style cheeses, cheddar, colby, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, smoked, and flavored cheeses.

On June 18, 2026, FDA posted that Clover Hill Dairy expanded its recall to all Clover Hill Dairy cheese products currently on the market because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Earlier checks focused mainly on requeson or soft ricotta, but the official scope now includes cuajada varieties and hard cheeses. CDC lists the investigation as open and confirms that this is an all cheese recall for Clover Hill Dairy products.

The current official case count is 9 illnesses, 8 hospitalizations, and 1 death, with cases in MD, NY, VA. FDA lists confirmed product distribution in MD, NJ, NY, NC, VA, D.C.. These numbers help identify the public-health context; they do not diagnose any individual. If the cheese may be affected, separate it first, then clean the refrigerator, containers, shelves, knives, cutting boards, and other surfaces it touched.

Who Needs This

• People who bought or received Clover Hill Dairy cheese through U.S. East Coast groceries, farmers markets, restaurants, shared kitchens, or family deliveries
• People who have cheese under a different brand name but need to check KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, or RIO LINDO labeling
• Pregnant people, adults 65 or older, people with weakened immune systems, and households with newborns or young children
• Anyone with repacked cheese, unlabeled bulk cheese, frozen cheese without original packaging, or leftover restaurant cheese
• Families coordinating food-safety checks with relatives, students, travelers, or workers in the United States

Why To Sort This Out First

This is no longer a narrow soft-cheese check. FDA and the Maryland Department of Health advise consumers, retailers, and restaurants not to eat, sell, or serve cheese products made by Clover Hill Dairy. The products were sold through a retail market, farmers markets, and third-party distributors, and some may have been relabeled under other brand names. Relying only on the front brand name can miss affected cheese.

Listeria can survive under refrigeration and spread to other foods and surfaces. That is why the official advice goes beyond throwing out or returning the cheese. It also includes careful cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces and containers that touched the recalled product. If the original packaging is gone or frozen cheese cannot be identified, FDA says not to eat it.

Three Common Situations

• The label shows 24-128: Stop eating the cheese regardless of variety. Recheck the FDA and CDC pages, return or discard it, and clean surfaces it touched.
• The brand name is different: The product may have been relabeled as KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, RIO LINDO, or another name. Check manufacturer information and the official pages instead of relying on the brand alone.
• It came through a restaurant or shared kitchen: CDC guidance applies to businesses too. Stop serving affected cheese, isolate remaining stock, and clean counters, containers, refrigerators, and utensils.

User Checklist

1. Pull together ricotta, requeson, cuajada, cheddar, colby, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, smoked, and flavored cheeses from the refrigerator and freezer.
2. Look for Clover Hill Dairy, plant number 24-128, or possible relabeled brand names.
3. Check whether the purchase or delivery route connects to MD, NJ, NY, NC, VA, D.C., nearby areas, shipping, gifts, or food-service use.
4. If frozen cheese has no original packaging and cannot be identified, do not eat it.
5. Clean and sanitize shelves, containers, knives, cutting boards, towels, and refrigerator handles that may have touched the cheese.
6. If someone is pregnant, 65 or older, or immunocompromised, review CDC symptom guidance and contact a healthcare provider if symptoms appear.
7. Businesses should stop sale or service, isolate stock, clean work areas, and check supplier records.
8. Use official recall pages and the point of purchase for return or refund handling; do not share, resell, or serve uncertain cheese.

What To Check On Official Links

• FDA expanded recall announcement: Check the June 18, 2026 expanded recall scope, affected cheese families, illnesses, hospitalizations, death, and refund route.
• FDA outbreak investigation: Check the current update, plant number 24-128, distribution states, refrigerator/freezer advice, and cleaning steps.
• CDC outbreak advisory: Check high-risk groups, possible symptom timing, and cleaning advice for refrigerators and surfaces.
• Maryland Department of Health advisory: Check the state advisory, suspended operating license, relabeling risk, and distribution notes.

Frequently Confused Questions

Is it safe if the package does not say Clover Hill Dairy?

Not automatically. FDA and Maryland health officials say the cheese may have been relabeled under names including KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, RIO LINDO. Check plant number 24-128 and manufacturer information.

Does freezing make the cheese safe?

No. Freezing does not remove the recall concern. FDA says that if frozen cheese cannot be identified because the original package is gone, do not eat it.

What if someone already ate a small amount?

Watch the official symptom guidance and risk categories. FDA and CDC say people with symptoms should contact a healthcare provider, and higher-risk groups should be especially careful because symptoms can be mild or delayed.

Today’s Bottom Line

For the Clover Hill Dairy expanded recall, check manufacturer information and plant number 24-128 before the cheese name. If it may be affected, do not eat it; return or discard it, and clean the refrigerator and contact surfaces. Do not assume illness status, eligibility, or refund handling beyond what FDA, CDC, Maryland health officials, and the point of purchase confirm.