Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O157:H7: Raw Cheddar Cheese (March 2026)
Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar Cheese. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
Product:
RAW FARM recalled the following original flavor and jalapeno flavor raw cheddar cheeses:
Raw cheddar cheese sold in 8 oz and 16 oz blocks:
- Original flavor with expiration dates on or before 8/23/2026
- Jalapeno flavor with expiration dates on or before 9/24/2026
Raw Cheddar Simply Shredded Cheese (original flavor), sold in an 8 oz bag, with expiration dates on or before 5/13/2026.
The recall also includes bulk products: 80 oz Raw Cheddar Original Cheese blocks with expiration dates on or before 8/11/2026 and 80 oz Raw Cheddar Simply Shredded Cheese (original flavor) with expiration dates on or before 5/6/2026.
Symptoms of E. coli:
Symptoms begin anywhere from a few days after consuming contaminated food or up to nine days later. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting.
The severity or presence of certain symptoms may depend on the type of pathogenic E. coli causing the infection. Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to life-threatening conditions, such as a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems.
Stores affected:
Sold at retailers nationwide.
Ill people have reported purchasing RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese at Sprouts Farmers Market and H-E-B. There may be other retailers who are selling the RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese. This advisory will be updated as more information becomes available.
Status:
Ongoing; updates will be provided as they become available.
Recommendations:
- Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled RAW FARM-brand block and shredded raw cheddar cheeses.
- Check your refrigerators and freezers for recalled RAW FARM-brand block and shredded raw cheddar cheeses and throw them away if they are part of the recall. If you froze a product without the original packaging and can’t tell if it’s part of the recall, throw it away.
- Consumers, restaurants, retailers, and foodservice customers who purchased or received recalled RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese, including wholesale products, should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched. Follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
- Retailers that received recalled product and repackaged it for individual sale should not sell it and remove the product from the market.
- Consult your health care provider immediately if you ate RAW FARM-brand cheddar cheese and have any symptoms that resemble an E. coli infection.
Current Update
April 3, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, continue to investigate a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to RAW FARM-brand raw dairy products.
On April 2, 2026, RAW FARM, LLC initiated a voluntary recall of certain RAW FARM-brand cheeses. FDA is working with the firm and its customers to determine if any downstream recalls are necessary.
FDA initiated an onsite inspection and sample collection at RAW FARM, LLC in coordination with state partners. Sample analysis is ongoing but, at this time, FDA is not aware of any positive samples. If there are any positive test results, those results will be reported as they become available.
As of April 3, 2026, a total of nine (9) people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from three (3) states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from September 1, 2025, to February 20, 2026. Three (3) people have been hospitalized and one (1) person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. No deaths have been reported. Over half of the illnesses are in children under five (5) years old.
FDA’s investigation is ongoing, and this advisory will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
Case Count Map Provided by CDC
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 9
Hospitalizations: 3
HUS: 1
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: February 20, 2026
States with Cases: CA, FL, TX
Product Distribution: Nationwide
Product Images
Previous Update
March 30, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, continue to investigate a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to RAW FARM-brand raw dairy products. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
On March 26, 2026, the FDA and CDC provided an update on new cases (see March 26, 2026, update below).
FDA has again recommended that RAW FARM, LLC voluntarily remove their raw cheese products from the market, and the firm has not responded.
FDA has initiated an onsite inspection and sample collection at RAW FARM, LLC in coordination with state partners. To date, FDA is not aware of any positive E. coli tests in RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese products from this time period. FDA will update this advisory should additional information become available.
March 26, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to RAW FARM-brand raw dairy products. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
Since the last update on March 15, 2026, two (2) additional illnesses have been reported. A total of nine (9) people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from three (3) states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from September 1, 2025, to February 20, 2026. Three (3) people have been hospitalized and one (1) person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. No deaths have been reported. Over half of the illnesses are in children under five (5) years old.
State and local public health officials are interviewing people or their caregivers about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the eight (8) people interviewed, all eight (8) (100%) in this outbreak reported consuming or being served raw dairy products.
Of the eight (8) people interviewed, seven (7) had brand information available. One (1) person drank raw milk but didn’t know the brand. Of the seven (7) people interviewed who knew a brand, seven (7) (100%) reported RAW FARM-brand dairy products. In 2026, five (5) people reported consuming or being served RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese. In 2025, two (2) sick people reported consuming RAW FARM-brand raw milk. Affected RAW FARM-brand raw milk from 2025 should no longer be for sale.
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of E. coli isolates from ill people shows that they are all closely related genetically to each other. This means that people in this outbreak are likely to share a common source of infection.
FDA has initiated an onsite inspection at RAW FARM, LLC in coordination with state partners. To date, FDA is not aware of any positive E. coli tests in RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese products from this time period. FDA will update this advisory should additional information become available.
March 15, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.
As of March 14, 2026, a total of 7 confirmed infections have been reported from three states, including CA (5), FL (1), and TX (1). Known illness onset dates range from September 1, 2025 to February 13, 2026. Whole genome sequencing analysis of E. coli isolates from ill people shows that they are all closely related genetically to each other. This means that people in this outbreak are likely to share a common source of infection. Additionally, 4 of 7 cases are 3 years old or younger. Two patients have been hospitalized. No deaths or HUS cases have been reported.
State and local public health officials have interviewed 3 ill people about food exposures of interest in this outbreak. All 3 people (100%) reported eating RAW FARM- brand raw cheddar cheese. State and local officials are working to gather additional data for the 4 other illnesses, including 2 illnesses that occurred in 2025. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese products made by RAW FARM, LLC are the likely source of this outbreak.
FDA has recommended that RAW FARM, LLC voluntarily remove their raw cheese products from the market, and the firm has declined.
The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products are linked to illnesses. To date, to FDA’s awareness, no RAW FARM-brand cheddar cheese products from this time period have tested positive for E. coli. As part of this investigation, state partners initiated collection of product samples for testing and analysis, but results are not yet available. FDA will update this advisory should additional information become available.
Who to Contact?
Consumers who have symptoms should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.
To report a complaint or adverse event (illness or serious allergic reaction), you can
- Call an FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator if you wish to speak directly to a person about your problem.
- Complete an electronic Voluntary MedWatch form online.
- Complete a paper Voluntary MedWatch form that can be mailed to FDA.
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