Raw Cheese E.coli Outbreak: Nine Sickened, Three Hospitalized as Products Recalled
An E.coli outbreak linked to raw cheeses has resulted in nine confirmed illnesses and three hospitalizations, prompting a major product recall. All patients interviewed reported consuming RAW FARM-branded raw milk or cheddar cheese, either in block or shredded form, before falling ill.
Grocery Store Recall and FDA Advisory
Sprouts grocery store, which stocks the affected items, has announced it is withdrawing them from shelves. The retailer has strongly encouraged customers not to eat the cheeses and to dispose of them immediately. A spokesperson stated: 'RAW FARM raw cheddar cheeses are being withdrawn from sale due to potential E.coli contamination per FDA advisory. Please do not consume any variety of RAW FARM raw cheddar cheese.'
Other grocery stores, including H-E-B, are also reported to have sold the cheeses, though they have not released formal statements. H-E-B's website indicates it no longer stocks RAW FARM raw cheddar in its stores.
Health Agency Investigation and Company Response
In mid-March, the FDA and CDC raised concerns about a potential link between E.coli infections and RAW FARM products, requesting the company issue a recall. Last Thursday, the agencies revealed two new infections and one additional hospitalization connected to the outbreak.
Officials had urged RAW FARM to recall its products, but the company refused, stating it '100 percent disagreed' with health officials. In a recent update, the California-based business claimed all current tests on its products were negative for E.coli. However, this does not eliminate a potential link to the outbreak, as investigators may not have tested the contaminated batch.
Specific Products Recalled and Patient Details
Sprouts is recalling the following RAW FARM products sold in its stores:
- RAW FARM 16oz Raw Cheddar Cheese
- RAW FARM 8oz Raw Cheddar Cheese with Jalapeno
- RAW FARM 8oz Shredded Raw Cheddar Cheese
Customers who purchased these items are advised to contact the grocery store for a full refund. The CDC update last Thursday confirmed two new infections, bringing the total E.coli cases to nine. One patient has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure.
Seven patients are in California, with one each in Florida and Texas. Over half of the illnesses occurred in children under five years old. All seven patients interviewed reported consuming RAW FARM-branded products, with five eating raw cheddar cheese and two consuming raw milk.
E.coli Strain and Company Background
Tests identified the E.coli strain O157:H7, which increases the risk of kidney problems. This same strain was responsible for a major McDonald's recall in 2024 that resulted in one death and 34 hospitalizations.
RAW FARM, which claims to be the nation's largest producer of raw milk, is operated by Mark McAfee, an advisor to Robert F Kennedy Jr's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.
Health Warnings and Demographics
Anyone who has recently eaten the cheeses is urged to monitor for symptoms, including a fever of 102°F (39°C), diarrhea lasting more than three days, and vomiting. No deaths have been reported, but officials encourage anyone who believes they were sickened by the cheese to come forward.
Patients in the outbreak range from one to 28 years old, with an average age of two years. Sixty-seven percent are male, and 83 percent are from a white ethnic background.
FDA Inspection and Raw Milk Risks
The FDA, in partnership with the CDC, launched an onsite inspection of RAW FARM's California facility last Thursday. The agency is also working with state agencies to test the company's cheese for E.coli.
Products made with raw milk have not undergone pasteurization, a process that heats food to 161°F (71.5°C) for several seconds to kill dangerous pathogens. The CDC warns that consuming raw milk products increases exposure to germs like E.coli, listeria, and salmonella, particularly for children under five, people over 65, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.
Contamination Theories and Company Statements
It remains unclear how the cheeses became contaminated, but possibilities include accidental exposure to cow feces during milk production. In a statement last Thursday, a RAW FARM spokesman said: 'It's official. One-hundred percent of the results are negative. No positives at retail, from our sampling or the government sampling. Stay tuned. I'm very thankful for our hardworking food safety team.'
However, negative test results do not rule out the product as the outbreak source, as the specific contaminated batch may not have been tested. A RAW FARM spokeswoman previously stated: 'There is NO recalled product with any "bad" dates of product. The FDA has no actual product evidence and no actual proof to their claim that connects ill people to our products.'
