Federal health officials say inspectors turned up E. coli O157:H7 in a Raw Farm raw cheddar sample taken at the company’s Fresno facilities, but genetic testing shows this bacteria is not the culprit behind the current multistate E. coli cluster. Instead, investigators say the positive sample matches illnesses from a separate 2025 outbreak, and the batch that tested positive was not shipped to stores.
What The FDA Found
During an onsite inspection at Raw Farm, the Food and Drug Administration collected 19 samples of raw cheddar and found one that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. Whole‑genome sequencing showed that the bacteria in that product match a 2025 outbreak strain and are different from the strain tied to the current illnesses. Sample testing by state partners is still underway, according to the FDA.
Where People Got Sick
Federal and state investigators have identified nine confirmed infections in California, Florida and Texas, including three hospitalizations and one case of hemolytic uremic syndrome. Reported illnesses span from Sept. 1, 2025, to Feb. 20, 2026, and more than half of the patients are children under five, per the CDC.
Company Response And Recall
Raw Farm initially pushed back on the FDA’s request for a market removal, but on April 2 the company issued a voluntary recall covering specific block and shredded raw cheddar lots. On April 7, Raw Farm clarified that notice and removed language stating the recall was being “performed under protest.” The recall posting on the FDA site lists the affected lot numbers and best‑by dates and urges consumers to return recalled packages for a refund, according to a company announcement posted by the FDA.
Raw Farm’s Safety History
This is not Raw Farm’s first brush with regulators. California investigators previously linked Raw Farm raw milk to a multistate Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that sickened roughly 171 people in late 2023–2024. State officials also detected H5N1 bird‑flu in retail raw‑milk samples last year, which were later associated with pet cat deaths, according to a California Department of Public Health report and reporting by the Los Angeles Times.
What To Do If You Bought Raw Farm Cheese
Health officials advise consumers not to eat, sell or serve recalled Raw Farm raw cheddar and to check refrigerators for affected packages. Anyone who ate recalled products and develops symptoms should contact a healthcare provider, and retailers are urged to pull recalled stock from shelves, per the CDC.
Investigations and testing are ongoing, and agencies say they will update public advisories if new positive results are identified. In the meantime, officials continue to stress that choosing pasteurized dairy products is the safest bet for children and others at higher risk for severe illness.
