Company declines to recall implicated products

The FDA and CDC are investigating an outbreak of seven cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in three US states.

Outbreak cases have been reported in California (5), Florida (1), and Texas (1).

Four of the seven victims are three years old or younger, and two people have been hospitalized.

No deaths have been reported, and none of the victims have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) as of March 14, 2026.

The first two illnesses associated with this outbreak were recorded in September 2025, and the other five in January and February of 2026.

The CDC warns that the number of outbreak illnesses is likely much higher than reported, as many individuals recover without seeking medical care and are not tested.

Three of the victims have been interviewed so far, and all three reported eating RAW FARM-brand cheddar cheese made from raw (unpasteurized) milk.

Testing of product samples is in progress, but results are not yet available.

The producer, RAW FARM, LLC (previously known as Organic Pastures), has declined the FDA’s recommendation that their raw cheese products be removed from the market.

RAW FARM’s checkered history

This is the second time in two years that RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese has been linked epidemiologically to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses.

On March 26, 2024, the FDA and CDC reported an outbreak of 11 illnesses, including five hospitalizations. Outbreak were reported in California (4), Colorado (3), New Jersey (1), Texas (1), and Utah (2). Two of the outbreak victims developed HUS. There were no deaths.

Seven of the ten victims interviewed as part of the outbreak investigation specifically reported eating RAW FARM brand raw cheddar cheese prior to becoming ill.

The company initially recalled their raw cheddar cheese, but subsequently withdrew their recall after testing of cheese samples failed to find E. coli.

From October 2023 through May 2024, raw milk and cream produced by RAW FARM, LLC was implicated in a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that affected 171 individuals in the state of California primarily in the southern counties of the state. Children were affected disproportionately.

In addition to epidemiological evidence pointing to RAW FARM-brand raw milk as the source of the illnesses, the outbreak strain was recovered from three samples of raw milk and one sample of cheese made from the contaminated raw milk.

In October 2023, the company recalled all fluid raw whole milk and raw heavy cream (Best by dates from 10/11/2023 to 11/6/2023.

Even before this major outbreak, the company’s operations had come under scrutiny by the FDA. The federal agency conducted an inspection of Organic Pasture’s (as it was then known) production facility in February 2021, and issued a Form 483 listing several significant infractions, including inadequate sanitary handling procedures, flaws in the company’s hazard analysis for Salmonella and for Listeria monocytogenes, and inadequate record keeping relating to sanitation operations.

The FDA classified the result of the inspection as Official Action Indicated, a failing grade.

What consumers need to know

Although raw milk and other dairy products made with raw (unpasteurized) milk are not permitted to be shipped for retail sale across state lines, they are legal for retail sale within a number of states, including California.

According to the FDA, since 1987 and up to March 2024, there have been 143 recorded outbreaks of illnesses in the United States associated with consumption of raw milk and raw dairy products. These include outbreaks of Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and shiga toxin-producing E. coli (such as E. coli O157:H7).

If you consumed a RAW FARM, LLC cheese product and you develop symptoms of gastrointestinal upset within the few days following consumption, consider seeking medical treatment, especially if your symptoms include one or more of the following:

• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
• Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
• Bloody diarrhea
• So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
• Signs of dehydration, such as:
  • Not peeing much
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Feeling dizzy when standing up

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

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