It took 21 days, but Raw Farm LLC finally issued a recall on raw cheddar cheese linked to a nationwide outbreak of E. coli O157 H:7 infections.
Until today, the California-based dairy company had rejected requests from the Food and Drug Administration to recall its products, arguing that its raw milk cheese could not be the source of the pathogen.
In announcing the recall, the owners of Raw Farm said the recall was being done as a protest because no pathogens were found in their products. However, due to the timing of the disease, Raw Farm products involved in the outbreak investigation would not have been sold in the market when infections were confirmed.
An investigation by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that seven out of nine sick patients had eaten raw milk cheddar cheese from Raw Farm before becoming sick. More than half of the nine patients are children under 5 years of age. Patients reside in California, Texas, and Florida.
Illness began between September 1, 2025 and February 20, 2026. Three people were hospitalized, one with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure, brain damage and death.
It is likely that there are more people infected than officially counted. This is because some people do not seek medical treatment and others are not specifically tested for E. coli. The CDC’s estimate of all patients with confirmed E. coli outbreaks includes 26 undetected patients.
The FDA and CEC are urging the public not to consume Raw Farm cheddar cheese due to the risk of infection. Fresh cheese is made from unpasteurized raw milk, and the milk is heated for 15 seconds to kill bacteria.
Photos of all raw palm products subject to recall are: Click here.
About E. coli infection
Anyone who has eaten the recalled cheese and develops symptoms of an E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible exposure to the bacteria. Specific tests are needed to diagnose infections, which can mimic other diseases.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection vary from person to person, but often include severe stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within 5 to 7 days. Other people may develop serious or life-threatening symptoms and complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
About 5 to 10 percent of people diagnosed with E. coli infection develop a potentially life-threatening complication of kidney failure, known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased urination, small bruising or bleeding of unknown origin, and paleness.
Many people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injury or die. The condition can occur at any age, but is most common in people with compromised immune systems, such as children under 5 years of age, older adults with weakened immune systems, and people with cancer because their immune systems are immature.
People experiencing HUS symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately. People with HUS are more likely to be hospitalized because it can cause other serious and lasting problems, including high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurological problems.
