The FDA has added information to the Raw Farm raw Cheddar cheese E. coli outbreak, including where the cheese may have been sold. This outbreak has sickened at least nine people in three states; most of them are children.
The FDA has encouraged Raw Farm to recall this cheese, but the owners of the farm have refused. So the FDA is warning people to not eat Raw Farm raw Cheddar cheese, both in block form and shredded, that was purchased on or after January 4, 2026.
The cheese may have been sold at Sprouts Farmers Market and HEB stores, according to patient reports. There may be other retailers who are selling this cheese. The advisory will be updated as more information becomes available.
The case count by state is: California (7), Florida (1), and Texas (1). The patient age range is from 1 to 28 years, with the median age of 2. More than half of the patients are under the age of 5. Illness onset dates range from September 1, 2025 to February 20, 2026. Of the eight patients who gave information about their illnesses to public health officials, three have been hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 37.5%. One person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure.
Epidemiologic data shows that Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and may be making people sick. Of the eight people interviewed, all of them reported consuming unpasteurized milk or cheese before getting sick. Seven of those patients reported consuming Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese or raw milk.
If you did buy this cheese, do not eat it and do not serve or sell it to others. You can throw it away in a secure trash can after first double bagging it so other people can’t see it, or you can take it back to the store where you purchased it for a full refund. Then sanitize any containers or surfaces that may have come into contact with the cheese. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the cheese.
If you ate this cheese, monitor your health for the symptoms of an E. coli O157:H7 infection or HUS for the next week. If you do get sick, see your doctor.
