A local dairy operation in Mechanicsville has issued a voluntary recall for several of its soft ricotta products over possible listeria contamination.
The company, Clover Hill Dairy, is an Amish-owned farm store that sells an assortment of cheeses made on the premises, as well as handcrafts and canned and baked goods.
Clover Hill products can also be found at farmers markets and through some third-party vendors in Virginia and New York.
The Maryland Department of Health has advised retailers, restaurants and shoppers to avoid eating, selling or serving anything containing the soft ricotta, recommending that those products be disposed of.
Consumers are urged to check manufacturer information on products because packages may be relabeled with a different brand. Buyers can identify Clover Hill Dairy by its manufacturer permit number, which is 24-128.
The department said that this “does not represent all products and distributors affected by this voluntary recall.” Out of an abundance of caution, MDH has suspended Clover Hill Dairy’s operating license and is working with the facility to do a follow-up evaluation.
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It is unclear if anyone became sick from the ricotta. Listeria microbes are a type of bacteria that can grow in unsanitary environments and contaminate food.
If eaten, someone can contract listeriosis, a disease that can be serious and life-threatening. Symptoms of the illness typically develop several days after the bacteria was consumed, and include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever and muscle aches that can last from one to three days.
More serious cases can cause confusion, loss of balance, headache, stiff neck and convulsions.
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