Listeria outbreak linked to cheese leads to one death and several hospitalisations

Health officials in the United States are in the midst of investigating a fatal Listeria outbreak amid a major cheese recall. Here’s everything you need to know, including affected products and prevalent symptoms to keep an eye on.

Clover Hill Dairy, a Maryland-based food manufacturer, has issued a voluntary recall of its requeson/soft ricotta products after sampling identified Listeria monocytogenes, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed in a recent notice.

The product, sold in individually packaged 10, 12, and 14 ounce clamshell containers and in two and five-gallon buckets, which may have been repackaged, officials stated.

It’s understood the dairy product, distributed from 4 to 30 May, was sold in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, DC.

Consumers are advised to check cheese packaging for the Clover Hill Dairy’s manufacturer permit number, ‘24-128’.

Clover Hill Dairy has issued a recall amid a fatal illness outbreak (FDA/Clover Hill Dairy)

Days later, Nelson & Isa Lacteos, LLC of Bay Shore, New York, also initiated a recall of its requeson cheese sold in clear plastic clam-shell containers, the FDA stated.

These items were sold in retail locations across New York between 15 and 28 May.

It’s understood that the Nelson & Isa Lacteos items were ‘likely repacked at the retail store locations’ and that the labelling or coding of recalled cheese ‘may vary based on the location of purchase’, the notice read.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that eight people have fallen ill, seven have been hospitalised, and one has died as a result of contracting a Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Nelson & Isa Lacteos has also recalled its requeson cheese (FDA)

The illnesses were reported in Maryland, New York, and Virginia, as per a Delish report.

However, health officials stated that there was 'not enough evidence to determine if the recalled cheese can explain the entire outbreak. FDA is in the early stages of this investigation, additional products may be impacted, and further testing by FDA and state partners is underway'.

The Independent reported that the Maryland Department of Health has since suspended Clover Hill Dairy’s operating license as it conducts a follow-up evaluation in cooperation with the facility.

FOODbible has contacted the Maryland Department of Health for further comment.

Listeria, a resilient, disease-causing bacterium, can be extremely dangerous for pregnant people, those older than 65, and people with weakened immune systems, as per the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhoea, are likely to start within two weeks of eating the contaminated food.

However, they may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after, health professionals warned.

Those who have a more serious form of listeriosis may experience headaches, stiff necks, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

A listeria infection may cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection to newborns.

Pregnant people are particularly at risk of listeria infection (Getty Stock Image)

For this reason, pregant people are advised not to eat any queso fresco-type cheese, including soft ricotta/requeson.

Anyone experiencing symptoms of a Listeria infection are advised to contact their healthcare provider immediately.

As the bacterium can survive refrigeration and freezing, the CDC has advised disposing of any affected Nelson & Isa Lacteos and Clover Hill Dairy products. You can also return them to the place of purchase.

The FDA and CDC confirmed that as the investigation into the outbreak is still ongoing, additional products may be impacted in the near future.