Though a California company recalled cheese linked by the FDA and CDC to E. coli cases in California, Florida and Texas, it denies any link and says the agencies engaged in “egregious and extreme harassment toward our brand.”
That’s from the same part of the Raw Farm website in which the Fresno, California, company states “this voluntary recall is being performed under protest.”
Almost all food, drug and product recalls are voluntary.
READ MORE: E. coli in Florida, California, Texas blamed on cheese. Cheese maker disagrees
Here’s the latest from Raw Farm and the Food and Drug Administration’s Friday outbreak update:
What Raw Farm cheeses have been recalled?
Raw Farm recalled Raw Cheddar cheese sold in block and shredded forms.
Lightly Salted Cheddar Block Cheese, 8 ounces, batch No. 20251027-2, expiration 8/23/2026
Raw Farm Raw Cheddar Cheese
(FDA)
Lightly Salted Cheddar Block Cheese, 80 ounces, batch No. 20251015-4, expiration 8/11/2026
Lightly Salted Cheddar Block Cheese, 16 ounces, batch No. 20251027-4, expiration 8/23/2026
Lightly Salted Cheddar Cheese Shredded, 8 ounces, batch No. 20260212, expiration 5/13/2026
Raw Farm Raw Cheddar Simply Shredded
(FDA)
Original Cheddar Shredded, 80 ounces, batch No. 20260205, expiration 5/6/2026
An 80-ounce bag of Raw Farm Original Raw Cheddar Shredded Cheese
(FDA)
Jalapeño Cheddar Block Cheese, 8 ounces, batch No. 20251128-2J, expiration 9/24/2026
A 16-ounce block of Raw Farm’s Jalapeño Cheddar Block Cheese
(FDA)
Jalapeño Cheddar Block Cheese, 16 ounces, batch No. 20251128-1J, expiration 9/24/2026
If you have any of the above, return them to the store where you bought them for a refund. Send questions about this recall to Raw Farm from the contact page of its website.
E. coli outbreak update
The form of E. coli in this outbreak is O157:H7, a Shiga toxin-producing form of the foodborne illness that brings a higher likelihood of deadly consequences.
Friday’s CDC and FDA updates says nine people are counted in this outbreak, seven of whom are in California, the other two in Florida and Texas. The FDA said over half of those sickened are under 5 years old. Three ill people needed to be hospitalized, one of whom has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure that can be fatal.
“Ill people have reported purchasing Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese at Sprouts Farmers Market and H-E-B,” the FDA said. “There may be other retailers who are selling the Raw Farm-brand raw cheddar cheese.”
H-E-B ranks No. 7 among the nation’s grocery sellers, according to FoodIndustry.com, but its 435 stores are entirely in Texas and Mexico. Raw Farm insisted from the first notification of this outbreak that it can’t be responsible for the cases outside of California because it obeys federal law prohibiting shipping of raw milk products across state lines.
“Raw Farm will not offer for introduction, introduce, or cause to be introduced into interstate commerce, deliver or cause to be delivered for introduction into interstate commerce, any unpasteurized raw milk or raw milk products,” the website states.
Raw Milk says company, state and FDA testing have found no pathogens in any of its cheese products, a claim the FDA doesn’t dispute: “FDA initiated an onsite inspection and sample collection at Raw Farm LLC in coordination with state partners. Sample analysis is ongoing but, at this time, FDA is not aware of any positive samples.”
What is E. coli?
As with other outbreaks involving foodborne illnesses, E. coli outbreak exact case counts are almost impossible because most people recover without being hospitalized.
E. coli usually hangs around for five to seven days after taking effect three to four days after the person eats the bacteria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent says. During those five to seven days, stomachaches, bloody diarrhea and vomiting are common.