The expanded recall follows an ongoing investigation involving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state health agencies. According to the FDA, consumers are advised not to eat, sell, or serve the recalled products while the investigation continues.
The newest recall involves Requesón Salvadoreño and Requesón Mexicano products distributed by La Ceiba Foods Latin Market Inc. under the La Colonia and Selectos Latinos brands. The products were sold to supermarkets, retail stores, and restaurants in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., with distribution dates between May 11 and June 1, 2026. All recalled products included in this action have an expiration date of July 10, 2026.
Additional Products Added as Investigation Continues
According to the FDA, La Ceiba Foods initiated the recall after its supplier, Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland, notified the company of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes in products manufactured at its facility.
The recalled products include La Colonia Salvadoreno Requeson Soft Ricotta Cheese in 14-ounce packages, Selectos Latinos Requeson Salvadoreno Ricotta Style Salvadorean Cheese in 16-ounce packages, Selectos Latinos Requeson Mexicano Mexican Cottage Cheese in 16-ounce packages, and 18-pound buckets of Clover Hill Requeson supplied for wholesale distribution.
The FDA also stated that Clover Hill Dairy expanded its own recall on June 18 to include all cheese products manufactured at its facility. According to the agency, those products include several varieties of requeson, cuajada, hard cheeses, cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, smoked cheeses, and flavored cheeses. The products may also have been relabeled under other brand names, including KESSO, QUESOS LA RICURA, IZALCO, DE MI PUEBLO, and RIO LINDO.
The Maryland Department of Health has suspended Clover Hill Dairy’s operating license while the investigation remains active. The FDA said additional recalls could be announced as more information becomes available.
Laboratory Testing Linked Recalled Cheese to Outbreak Strain
According to the FDA, the investigation began after two members of the same family in New York became ill in May 2026 after purchasing requeson from a local retailer. Laboratory testing found that the Listeria monocytogenes strain detected in the cheese matched the outbreak strain identified in patients from multiple states.
Investigators later traced the product to Clover Hill Dairy. An unopened 18-pound bucket of Clover Hill requeson also tested positive for the outbreak strain. As of the FDA’s June 29 update, six requeson cheese samples and two environmental samples collected from the manufacturing facility matched the outbreak strain through laboratory testing.
The FDA reported that 12 illnesses have been confirmed across Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Virginia, with 10 hospitalizations and one death. Specimens linked to the outbreak were collected between March 2023 and June 2, 2026.
The agency advises consumers to check refrigerators and freezers for recalled cheese, discard or return affected products, and thoroughly clean any surfaces or containers that came into contact with them because Listeria can survive under refrigeration and spread through cross-contamination. The FDA also recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with listeriosis contact a healthcare provider, while pregnant women, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid consuming recalled soft cheeses linked to the outbreak.
