Raw Farm recalls cheese linked to E. coli outbreak

It has taken 21 days, but Raw Farm LLC has finally issued a recall of its raw cheddar cheese that has been linked to a coast-to-coast outhreak of E. coli O157 H:7 infections.

Until today, the California based dairy refused requests from the Food and Drug Administration to recall their products, claiming that their raw milk cheese could not be the source of the pathogen.

In their recall announcement the owners of Raw Farm said that the recall is being made under protest because no pathogens have been found in their products. However, because of the timing of the illnesses the Raw Farm products implicated in the outbreak investigation would have been off the market by the time the infections were confirmed.

The investigation by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that seven out of nine outbreak patients ate Raw Farm’s raw milk cheddar cheese before becoming ill. More than half of the nine patients are children younger than 5 years old. Patients live in California, Texas and Florida.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from Sept. 1, 2025, to Feb.20, 2026. Three people have been hospitalized and one person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure, brain damage and death. 

There are likely more people who have been infected than are included in the official count. This is because some people do not seek medical attention and others are not specifically tested for E. coli. The CDC estimates for every confirmed patient in an E. coli outbreak there are 26 who go undetected.

The FDA and CEC are urging the public to not consume Raw Farm cheddar cheese because of the risk of infection. Raw cheese is made with raw milk that has not been pasteurization, which heats milk for 15 seconds to kill bacteria.

For photos of all of the Raw Farm products subject to the recall, click here.

About E. coli infections
Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled cheese and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible exposure to the bacteria. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. Others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

About 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor. 

Many people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients. 

People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. People with HUS will likely be hospitalized because the condition can cause other serious and ongoing problems such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurologic problems.