Bay Shore company recalls cheese products from Long Island stores; FDA's highest threat level warning

Cheese distributed by a Bay Shore company was subject to a highest threat level recall last month by the Food and Drug Administration, which said it was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and potentially carried "serious and sometimes fatal" health implications.

The soft cheese, distributed in 1-pound hand-labeled clear-plastic containers marked "Requeson," was sold at stores in Nassau and Suffolk between May 15-18 and had best buy dates of June 14, according to the FDA, which issued the recall notice on June 5.

It was distributed by Nelson & Isa Lacteos, LLC, of Bay Shore, which issued the recall notice.

It was sold in dozens of stores across Long Island.

The cheese was subject to a so-called Class 1 recall, the highest threat level, with the FDA website page announcing the recall noting Listeria can cause a range of symptoms including "high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea," but can also cause far more serious, even fatal, health implications for young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

The FDA said it could even cause miscarriages and stillbirths for pregnant women.

The FDA said the contamination was discovered during a sampling by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Market Food Inspectors — and confirmed by "subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel" of an 18-pound plastic container marked "Clover Hill Dairy Requeson Cheese."

The product was repacked into the 1-pound containers sold to consumers.

The FDA said Tuesday that, to date, no illnesses or complaints have been reported related to the cheese.

But, it asked anyone who purchased the cheese not to consume it — and to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers seeking additional information also can contact the company hotline at 631-334-1055 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., the FDA said.

The FDA said the cheese was sold at the following stores:

 Bay  Shore 

 Exelencia Bakery, 3 Candlewood Road

Brentwood

Claros Varidedas #1, 16 1st Ave.

Claros Variedades #2, 556 Suffolk Ave.

Fine Fare Super Market, 126 Clark St.

Ismael Variedades, 1629 Islip Ave.

Mi Plaza Variedades #1, 150 Heyward St.

Urquizas Variedades, 1087 Suffolk Ave.

Variedades Paola, 472 Suffolk Ave.

Central Islip

Claros Variedades, 126 W Suffolk Avenue

Compare Foods,1070 Islip Avenue

Jocorena Bakery #1, 1066 Islip Avenue

Victoria Bakery, 1645 Islip Avenue

Copiague

Fine Fare Super Market, 870 Merrick Road

Mi Plaza Variedades #2, 60 Railroad Ave.

Freeport

Plaza Centro, 46 South Main St.

Mi Tiendita, 282 North Main St.

Hampton Bays

Hamptonfood Supermarket, 39 West Montauk Highway

Hempstead

Rinconcito Salvadoreno, 230 Front St.

Segobias Bakery, 279 Jerusalem Ave.

Long Beach

Cafe Honduras, 267 West Park Ave.

Riverhead

Damaris Multiservices, 725 East Main St.

Riverhead Multiservices, 74 West Main St.

Southold

Dina Multiservicios, 46455 Route 48

South Farmingdale

D & D, 918 Main St.

Uniondale

Cecia Variedades, 959 Front St.

Rinconcito Variedades, 606 Jerusalem Ave

Shop Fair Marke, 973 Front St.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.