The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections associated with raw milk cheese from RAW FARM LLC to be over.
The outbreak has infected nine people in three states, including California, Texas, and Florida. Three of the patients were hospitalized, one of whom developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure, brain damage and death. Patients were diagnosed from September 1, 2025, to February 20, 2026. More than half of the patients were under 5 years of age.
Of the seven interviewees who were aware of the brand, all seven reported consuming RAW FARM brand raw milk dairy products. In 2026, 5 people reported consuming or being served RAW FARM brand raw cheddar cheese. In 2025, two sick people reported consuming RAW FARM brand raw milk.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first reported the outbreak on March 15 and asked RAW FARM LLC to recall its cheddar cheese products. The company refused to initiate a recall for three weeks, but finally did so after repeated requests from the FDA.
During the outbreak investigation, FDA and state agencies completed field inspections and collected samples from RAW FARM LLC’s farms and processing facilities.
The FDA collected and analyzed 19 samples of RAW FARM brand raw cheddar cheese products. One of the RAW FARM brand cheddar cheese samples tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. The FDA conducted additional testing and analysis through: Whole genome sequencing (WGS) or DNA fingerprinting.
According to the CDC, the E. coli strain found in the cheese was linked to a virus isolated by a patient from another outbreak in 2025 that did not progress. CDC and states followed up to determine if there was epidemiological information showing whether people were consuming RAW FARM brand products during the 2025 outbreak.
Raw cheddar cheese that tested positive for E. coli in connection with the initial outbreak in 2025 was not delivered to stores and could not be sold. There are currently no additional FDA or state samples pending analysis.
Lawmakers, consumer leaders raise questions
At a U.S. House subcommittee hearing Ohio Democrat Greg Landsman raised concerns about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s defense of the company.
“For some reason, the FDA did not require a recall for this company and said it was up to the company if they wanted to do so,” he said.
Steven Mandernach, executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officers, said the FDA should have used its authority to issue a mandatory recall.
“It’s not used very often, but historically we’ve never seen a voluntary recall from a company where they felt it was really necessary, so this is unusual,” he said.
Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group told Brownfield Ag News he is also very concerned about the FDA’s inaction.
“Usually just threatening to order a mandatory recall is enough,” he said. “It didn’t work in this case. And it’s very troubling because this is a custom case where the FDA had to use its recall authority.”
U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) pressed Kennedy directly on the issue. recent budget hearings; It is said that the process was unprecedented.
“The warning usually says, ‘Consumers, Retailers.’ ‘Not to be eaten, sold or served.’ Or, “Consumers should check their homes for recalled products and throw them away,” she said. “There was nothing like that. To be honest, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
