Health officials have confirmed that nine individuals, including several children, have been sickened in a widening outbreak of E. coli food poisoning. The outbreak is connected to raw milk and raw cheddar cheese produced by Raw Farm, a company based in Fresno, California.
Expanding Case Numbers Across Multiple States
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that two additional cases in California were identified on Thursday, bringing the total number of ill people in that state to seven. Two other cases have been confirmed in Texas and Florida, indicating a multi-state public health concern.
Over half of those affected are children under the age of five, highlighting particular risks for vulnerable populations. Three people required hospitalisation, with one developing a severe type of kidney infection known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported in connection with this outbreak to date.
Timeline and Product Consumption Details
Illnesses were confirmed over a period from September to mid-February. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, health officials interviewed eight of the sick individuals, and seven reported consuming Raw Farm-brand products. Specifically, two people in 2025 reported drinking Raw Farm milk, while five people in 2026 said they ate or were served Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese.
Genetic sequencing of the E. coli strains from the sick individuals revealed that they are all closely related. This strongly suggests that those affected in the outbreak share a common source of infection, as stated by the FDA.
Regulatory Actions and Company Response
FDA officials previously advised Raw Farm to recall its raw milk cheddar cheese from stores, but the company refused to comply. To date, no Raw Farm products have tested positive for E. coli in laboratory analyses, according to the agency.
In response, Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro and members of the Congressional Food Safety Caucus have urged the FDA to use its mandatory recall authority to remove the Raw Farm products from store shelves. FDA officials have not yet indicated whether the agency will take this step.
FDA and state health officials have conducted an inspection at a Raw Farm site as part of the ongoing investigation. The CDC has issued a public advisory, recommending that consumers consider not eating this cheese while the investigation continues.
Rising Popularity of Raw Milk
Interest in and sales of raw milk have been increasing in recent years, driven in part by social media and growing support from movements such as the Make America Healthy Again initiative associated with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
It is important to note that raw milk has not been pasteurised, a process that effectively kills harmful germs like E. coli, salmonella, listeria, and campylobacter. This lack of pasteurisation poses inherent food safety risks, as evidenced by this outbreak.
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