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The Food and Drug Administration and the California Department of Public Health have recommended that Fresno-based Raw Farms issue a voluntary recall of its raw cheddar cheese products after seven confirmed cases of E. coli were reported across three states, with three of the seven people reporting they had eaten Raw Farms raw cheddar cheese. However, Raw Farms founder Mark McAfee has declined the voluntary recall request, saying the agencies have not provided any positive pathogen tests to prove a link between the illnesses and his products.
Why it matters
Raw dairy products remain a contentious issue in food regulation, with critics arguing they can expose consumers to harmful bacteria, while supporters claim raw products contain beneficial components. This case highlights the ongoing debate around the safety and regulation of raw dairy products.
The details
According to the FDA, a total of 7 confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections have been reported from 3 states, with 5 cases in California, 1 in Florida, and 1 in Texas. Four of the 7 cases involve children 3 years old or younger, and 2 people have been hospitalized. State and local officials have interviewed 3 ill people, all of whom reported eating Raw Farms raw cheddar cheese. However, Raw Farms founder Mark McAfee says the company tests its products extensively and has not had any positive pathogen tests in the last 7 months, covering over 14,000 tests. McAfee says he will only recall products if the FDA can provide proof of a connection to the outbreak.
The reported illnesses range from September 1, 2025 to February 13, 2026.The FDA and California Department of Public Health made their recall recommendation in March 2026.
The players
Raw Farms
A Fresno-based raw dairy farm that sells raw milk, raw cheese, raw butter, and other products.
Mark McAfee
The founder of Raw Farms who has declined the FDA’s voluntary recall request, saying the agencies have not provided proof linking the illnesses to his products.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The federal agency that, along with the California Department of Public Health, has recommended Raw Farms issue a voluntary recall of its raw cheddar cheese products.
California Department of Public Health
The state agency that, along with the FDA, has recommended Raw Farms issue a voluntary recall of its raw cheddar cheese products.
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What they’re saying
“We said, ‘Do you have any pathogen tests showing positive?,’ They said, ‘No we have none,’”
— Mark McAfee, Founder, Raw Farms
“It’s just a shoot first ask questions later. Why not wait a couple more days to get the evidence? The actual causation… do the root cause analysis instead of shooting first and asking questions later.”
— Mark McAfee, Founder, Raw Farms
“For every cheese batch we’ve made in the last seven months and beyond, in every milk batch that we made, (it’s) showing zero pathogens. We’ve averaged 60 tests per day in the last 210 days.That’s 14,000 tests in the last seven months and none of those tests reveal any positives that released to the public if they’re positive they’re immediately gotten rid of.”
— Mark McAfee, Founder, Raw Farms
What’s next
The FDA and state partners are continuing to investigate the source of the E. coli outbreak, including collecting and testing product samples from Raw Farms.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing debate around the safety and regulation of raw dairy products, with Raw Farms arguing its extensive testing shows no pathogens, while health officials believe the epidemiological evidence points to the farm’s raw cheddar cheese as the likely source of the E. coli outbreak.