CALIFORNIA — Raw Farm is voluntarily recalling its raw milk cheddar cheese products after nine people in California, Texas and Florida developed E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to the cheeses. Three people have been hospitalized in connection with the outbreak, and one person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious kidney condition.

No deaths have been reported. Over half of the illnesses occurred in children under 5 years old. The Food and Drug Administration recommended that people not consume the recalled products.

The recall covers seven Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese products: 8 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Block (Batch 20251027-2; Expiration 8/23/2026), 80 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Block (Batch 20251015-4; Expiration 8/11/2026), 16 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Block (Batch 20251027-4; Expiration 8/23/2026), 80 oz Original Cheddar Shred (Batch 20260205; Expiration 5/6/2026), 16 oz Jalapeno Cheddar Block (Batch 20251128-1J; Expiration 9/24/2026), 8 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Shred (Batch 20260212; Expiration 5/13/2026) and 8 oz Jalapeno Cheddar Block (Batch 20251128-2J; Expiration 9/24/2026). Batch numbers on the recalled products date from late 2025 and early 2026, with expiration dates ranging through September 2026.

Raw Farm had previously refused repeated requests from the FDA to issue a recall. The FDA interviewed eight of the infected people about their food consumption the week prior to infection, and all eight reported eating raw dairy products. The FDA is testing samples for E. coli but has not confirmed a positive test result. The agency is also conducting an inspection of Raw Farm's facilities after identifying multiple E. coli cases tied to its products.

The company has disputed the findings. "We're not related to this outbreak," said Aaron McAfee, president of Raw Farm. The company said in a statement, "RAW FARM continues to contest the epidemiological links provided by the FDA." Raw Farm said the FDA has not detected E. coli bacteria in its products. McAfee agreed with the FDA's recommendation that people not consume the recalled products.

Raw milk products are made from dairy that has not been pasteurized, a process that heats milk enough to destroy bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that consuming raw milk can lead to serious health risks through exposure to E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria. Children under 5, pregnant women, people over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have serious E. coli illness. Symptoms of E. coli infection include diarrhea lasting longer than three days and excessive vomiting, though most people infected recover on their own within five to seven days.

Raw Farm's raw cheddar cheese was linked to a separate E. coli outbreak in 2024 that resulted in five people being hospitalized.