Maryland-based Clover Hill Dairy has issued a voluntary recall of its requesón/soft ricotta products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, the Maryland Department of Health announced Thursday.
Clover Hill Dairy of Mechanicsville, Maryland sells its products from its retail market, farmers’ markets, and third-party distributors throughout Maryland, New York, and Virginia.
According to the Maryland health department, some products may be relabeled under different brand names or be presented with different flavor options. Consumers should check any available manufacturer information on product packaging. The label should identify the Clover Hill Dairy manufacturer permit, or plant, number as “24-128.”
The photos above and below show the front label of sample Clover Hill Dairy requesón/soft ricotta products. These photos do not represent all products and distributors affected by this voluntary recall.
The state health department said retailers or consumers should not eat, distribute, or serve any products containing Clover Hill Dairy requesón/soft ricotta products. All products should be disposed of. The department suspended the facilities’ operating licenses due to the public health risk and is conducting a follow-up investigation in cooperation with the facilities.
L. monocytogenes, according to the Department, is a type of disease-causing bacterium in the Listeria family. The bacteria can grow in unsanitary production conditions, which can cause contamination. The bacteria can also grow and spread under refrigeration, and contaminate other foods and surfaces.
Eating food contaminated by L. monocytogenes can lead to the development of a disease called listeriosis. Listeriosis can cause a range of symptoms depending on severity, such as fever, muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, fatigue, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
However, Listeriosis has the potential to be life-threatening for pregnant women, newborns and young children, older adults, and other persons with weakened immune systems.
Although people can sometimes develop listeriosis up to 2 months after eating contaminated food, symptoms usually begin within several days. People should immediately consult a healthcare provider if they suspect they have developed symptoms that resemble a listeriosis infection.
More information about Listeriosis symptoms and prevention can be found here. Anyone who suspects that they have symptoms resembling Listeriosis sickness should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
