A California cheese producer is refusing to pull two of its products from store shelves despite a federal health agency linking them to a dangerous multistate E. coli outbreak that has already sent two people to the hospital and disproportionately affected young children. The Food and Drug Administration confirmed Sunday that Raw Farm’s raw cheddar cheese has been connected to seven confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7, a particularly serious strain of the bacteria capable of causing severe kidney damage, hospitalization, and in the worst cases, death.
Raw Farm has declined to issue a voluntary recall. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
What the FDA found and who has been affected
The seven confirmed cases span a period from September 1, 2025, through February 13, 2026, and have been detected across California, Florida, and Texas. Of the seven patients, four are children aged 3 and under — a detail that has drawn immediate concern from health officials and parents alike. Two of the seven patients have been hospitalized. No cases of kidney failure or deaths have been reported as of Sunday.
Three of the patients interviewed by health officials directly reported consuming Raw Farm brand raw cheddar. The remaining cases were connected to the outbreak through genetic sequencing of the bacteria, a process that confirmed the illnesses came from a common source, pointing investigators back to the same products.
The two specific Raw Farm products the FDA has linked to the outbreak are all sizes of the original block raw cheddar and all sizes of the original shredded raw cheddar. The FDA is currently partnering with state agencies to test both products for E. coli contamination.
What consumers need to do right now
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that no one consume either of the affected Raw Farm raw cheddar products. Anyone who has purchased them should discard the cheese immediately. The CDC is also urging consumers to thoroughly wash any surfaces, utensils, cutting boards, or other items that may have come into contact with the cheese using hot soapy water to prevent any potential spread of contamination in the home.
People at highest risk for serious illness from raw dairy products include children under age 5, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and anyone with a weakened immune system. Health officials are urging these groups in particular to act quickly if they have recently consumed Raw Farm raw cheddar or any other raw milk product.
A company with a troubling track record
Raw Farm is owned by Mark McAfee, one of the country’s most prominent raw milk advocates. This is not the first time the company has been at the center of a public health investigation. In 2024, Raw Farm’s raw milk was linked to dozens of salmonella cases, raising questions about the company’s food safety practices that have never been fully resolved.
McAfee had previously been expected to advise Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on ways to support the raw milk industry, though those plans did not move forward. Kennedy himself was a well-known proponent of raw milk before taking office as health secretary.
Why raw milk products carry serious risks
Raw milk cheese is produced from dairy that has not been pasteurized, meaning it has not been heated to the temperatures required to destroy harmful bacteria. The CDC has long warned that consuming raw milk and products made from it can expose people to a range of dangerous pathogens including E. coli, listeria, and salmonella.
The risks are not theoretical. In February, health officials in New Mexico confirmed that a newborn baby died from a listeria infection that likely spread from the baby’s mother, who had consumed raw milk during her pregnancy. Last August, 21 people in Florida developed campylobacter and E. coli infections after consuming raw milk, with six of those cases occurring in children under age 10.
The FDA has the legal authority to mandate food recalls but has historically preferred that companies act voluntarily. Raw Farm’s refusal to do so means the agency must now pursue other avenues while the contaminated products potentially remain available to consumers.
Anyone who believes they may have become ill after consuming Raw Farm raw cheddar is urged to contact their healthcare provider immediately.
Source: NBC News / FDA / CDC
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