HEALTH

United States expands cheese recall amid deadly listeria outbreak

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United States health authorities issued an urgent nationwide food safety alert after Clover Hill Dairy expanded a voluntary recall to include all of its cheese products in response to a deadly multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on June 18, 2026, to immediately check their refrigerators and discard any recalled Clover Hill cheese products to reduce the risk of infection. The CDC reported nine confirmed listeriosis cases across three states, noting that eight of the affected individuals required hospitalization. One death has been officially linked to the contaminated cheese, underscoring the seriousness of the outbreak and the need for rapid consumer action. United States public health investigators used epidemiologic interviews, laboratory testing, and product traceback data to initially identify requesón, or soft ricotta-style cheeses supplied by Clover Hill Dairy, as the likely source of contamination. The CDC’s PulseNet system, a national database of bacterial DNA fingerprints, enabled investigators to perform whole genome sequencing on Listeria samples from sick patients. The genomic analysis showed that the Listeria bacteria from different patients were genetically closely related, confirming a common foodborne source and supporting the decision to broaden the recall. Officials also noted that many people with Listeria infections do not seek medical care or undergo testing, so the true number of illnesses may exceed the confirmed case count.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

Prior years PulseNet system established nationwide
Early 2026 Initial listeriosis cases identified
Early 2026 Whole genome sequencing confirms linkage
Early 2026 Requesón cheeses first implicated
Early 2026 Clover Hill begins limited recall
June 18, 2026 Dairy expands recall to all cheeses
June 18, 2026 CDC, FDA issue urgent alert
Today Consumers urged to discard recalled cheeses

News Intelligence

Your health is at stake. If you've bought any cheese from Clover Hill Dairy, it could be contaminated with Listeria. This bacteria can cause serious illness, even death. Check your fridge and discard any Clover Hill products immediately.