Raw Farm LLC has issued a voluntary recall for several of its cheeses in response to an E. coli outbreak linked to their products.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) were alerted to illnesses in four states—California, Colorado, Texas, and Utah—that seemed to be connected to the consumption of these products.
The CDC reports that at least 10 people across the affected states have fallen ill due to the outbreak, with four individuals requiring hospitalization and one developing hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition affecting the kidneys. Although Raw Farms LLC maintains that no product samples tested positive for E. coli contamination, they initiated the voluntary recall as a precautionary measure based on the concerns raised by health authorities.
The affected products include both the original and jalapeno Raw Milk Raw Cheddar varieties, distributed nationwide in various sizes and packages. The FDA strongly advises consumers to throw out all Raw Farm Raw Cheddar cheeses and to dispose of or return any purchased items to their place of purchase. Additionally, they recommend thorough cleaning of surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled cheeses.
The reported cases include four in California, three in Colorado, two in Utah, and one in Texas, though it is believed that the actual number of illnesses could be higher. Ill people have reported purchasing Raw Farm Raw Cheddar cheese at Sprouts Farmers Market and Bristol Farms.
E. coli infections typically manifest symptoms such as diarrhea, high fever, and, in severe cases, bloody diarrhea. Most people can recover without treatment within a week, but those experiencing severe symptoms, such as signs of dehydration or vomiting, are advised to seek medical attention promptly.
This is not the first time Raw Farm LLC, formerly known as Organic Pastures Dairy Company, has issued a recall. The cheesemaker issued recalls for E. coli, listeria, salmonella, and campylobacter contamination in 2006, 2007, 2008, 20011, 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2023.
Josie Krogh
Josie Krogh is culture's Digital Strategy Lead. She earned her master's degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics from The University of Georgia. Josie developed a love of food while working at farmstands in the D.C. area as a young adult, and discovered her love of cheese while living and working on a dairy farm on Martha's Vineyard. Josie currently lives in Catskill, NY.
