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FDA expands cheese recall over possible listeria contamination
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(NewsNation) — More recalls have been announced tied to a deadly listeria outbreak that has been traced back to a Maryland-based cheese producer. La Ceiba Foods Latin Market Inc. is recalling products marketed under the La Colonia and Selectos Latinos brands. It includes Requesón Salvadoreño (Salvadoran Cottage Cheese) and Requesón Mexicano (Mexican Cottage Cheese). The products were distributed to markets and restaurants in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Brand Product UPC Size Distribution Date Expiration Date La Colonia Salvadoreno Requeson,Soft Ricotta Cheese 736846383099 14 oz 05/11/2026-06/01/2026 07/10/2026 SelectosLatinos Requeson Salvadoreno,Ricotta Style SalvadoreanStyle Cheese 767787984526 16 oz 05/11/2026-06/01/2026 07/10/2026 SelectosLatinos Requeson Mexicano,Mexican Cottage Cheese 767787984519 16 oz 05/11/2026-06/01/2026 07/10/2026 Clover Hill Buket of Requeson 18 lb 05/11/2026-06/01/2026 07/10/2026 La Ceiba Foods initiated the recall after being notified by its supplier, Clover Hill Dairy, of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination in products manufactured at its Mechanicsville, Maryland, facility. To date, 12 people have been hospitalized, and one person has died in connection with the contaminated products. Consumers are advised not to eat, sell or serve the recalled products and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. The FDA’s investigation began after two family members in New York fell ill in May 2026 after buying requeson from a local retailer. Further lab testing confirmed the Listeria strain in the cheese matched the strain that had infected nine people in Maryland, New York, and Virginia between March 2023 and May 2026. Further testing traced the cheese back to Clover Hill Dairy, and an unopened 18-pound bucket of the company’s requeson also tested positive. The Maryland Department of Health has suspended Clover Hill Dairy’s operating license. The FDA said its investigation is ongoing and additional products may be recalled. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal foodborne illness. Listeriosis has a range of symptoms that can vary in severity and presentation, according to the FDA. In less severe cases, symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which often last for one to three days. More severe cases can include symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. It can be a potentially life-threatening illness, especially for newborns, adults over the age of 65 and those with weakened immune systems. If you suspect you’ve been infected, you should immediately call your doctor. NewsNation’s Josie Fischels and Jordan Perkins contributed to this article. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.