E. Coli Outbreak Tied to Raw Milk Cheddar Sickens Seven
Raw Farm cheddar is linked to seven E. coli cases in three states; the FDA recommended a voluntary recall that Raw Farm declined.
The GuardianCheese from largest US raw milk distributor linked to E coli outbreak
PBS NewsHour7 people in the U.S. sickened by E. coli linked to cheese made from raw milk, FDA says
USA TODAYE. coli outbreak linked to raw cheese. See affected products, states.
ABC NewsE. coli linked to cheddar cheese made with raw milk sickens 7 in the US
NBC NewsFDA investigating illnesses linked to raw cheddar cheese from California farm
Overview
Federal health officials linked seven E. coli illnesses to Raw Farm cheddar made with raw milk, with illnesses reported between September 2025 and mid-February.
Interviews with three sick people found all three reported eating Raw Farm brand raw milk cheddar, and analysis of patient samples showed closely related E. coli isolates, the FDA said.
The FDA recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from sale, but owner Mark McAfee declined and said investigators have found no pathogens in the company’s products.
Seven people were sickened across three states—five in California, one in Florida and one in Texas—including four children aged three or younger and two hospitalizations.
The CDC and FDA urged consumers to avoid the affected cheeses while investigators gather more information and await further sample testing to confirm the contamination source.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a public-health warning by foregrounding FDA/CDC findings, emphasizing a 'dangerous' E. coli strain and affected children, and noting prior contamination ties and the owner's raw-milk advocacy. They include the company's denial but prioritize agency guidance and past incidents, casting the producer as a risky outlier.
FAQ
Raw Farm's 16-ounce and 8-ounce raw cheddar cheese blocks with batch code 20231113-1 or older, and 8-ounce raw shredded cheddar cheese with batch code 20240116 or older.
Seven people were sickened: five in California, one in Florida, and one in Texas, including four children aged three or younger and two hospitalizations.
The FDA recommended a voluntary recall, but Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee declined, stating no pathogens were found in their products; a prior 2024 recall was later withdrawn.
No cheese products tested positive for E. coli, despite epidemiologic evidence linking them to illnesses; additional testing is ongoing.
Illnesses were reported between September 2025 and mid-February 2026.
