The Maryland Department of Health announced today that Clover Hill Dairy (Mechanicsville, MD) has issued a voluntary recall of its requesón/soft ricotta products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) contamination.
Clover Hill Dairy products are sold directly from their retail market, at farmers markets, and through third party distributors, including in New York and Virginia. Some varieties may have jalapeño or other flavors. Products may be relabeled under a different brand name when distributed, so consumers are urged to check the manufacturer information on packages, if available. The label should identify the Clover Hill Dairy manufacturer permit (or plant) number as “24-128”.
Consumers, retailers and restaurants should not eat, sell or serve products containing Clover Hill Dairy requesón/soft ricotta products, and should dispose of any product containing them. Photographs contained in this release show the front label of sample Clover Hill Dairy requesón/soft ricotta products. This does not represent all products and distributors affected by this voluntary recall.
Due to the public health risk, the Maryland Department of Health has suspended the facility’s operating license, and is conducting a follow up evaluation in cooperation with the facility.
L. monocytogenes is a type of disease-causing bacteria, part of the Listeria family, that can grow in unsanitary food production conditions, leading to contamination of the food. When people eat food contaminated with L. monocytogenes, they may develop a disease called listeriosis. It can survive and grow even under refrigeration, and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces. Pets can also spread the bacteria in the home if they eat food contaminated with L. monocytogenes.
Listeriosis can cause a range of symptoms that vary depending on the severity and form of the illness. It can be serious and life-threatening, particularly for pregnant women, newborns and young children, older adults, and persons with weakened immune systems. Mild symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which often persist for 1 to 3 days. For the more serious form of the disease, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Although people can sometimes develop listeriosis up to 2 months after eating contaminated food, symptoms usually begin within several days. People should immediately consult with a healthcare provider if they suspect they have developed symptoms that resemble a listeriosis infection.
Consumers at higher risk for Listeria illness should not eat any soft cheeses that are made with unpasteurized milk. Although pasteurization of milk kills Listeria, soft cheeses made from pasteurized milk can still become contaminated after the pasteurization process and cause Listeria illnesses.