The FDA launched an investigation into Raw Farms raw cheddar cheese after multiple reports of E. coli linked to the product. (FDA)
Cheese lovers may want to check their refrigerators, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to investigate a multi-state outbreak of E. coli linked to a brand of raw cheddar cheese.
What we know:
The investigation comes after multiple people got sick after eating Raw Farm-brand Raw Cheddar Cheese. The FDA alert covers both the block and shredded varieties that were purchased on or after January 4, 2026. According to the agency, the cheeses were sold at Sprouts Farmers Market and H-E-B stores.
What we don't know:
There has been no official recall of the product and the FDA did not indicate if one would be issued. In its update, the FDA noted that officials have asked Raw Farm to pull the products voluntarily, but the company has not responded to its request.
By the numbers:
In all, FDA officials have linked nine cases in three states where someone became ill and their case was linked to the cheese. While that number remains in the single digits, three people – or a third of those cases – ended up in the hospital. The last reported case of an E. coli infection was on February 20.
The states where cases were confirmed were California, Florida, and Texas, with the vast majority of them being found in the Golden State. However, the product was available nationwide.
Most illnesses were in children under 5
The FDA pointed out how young many of the people who got sick were. In its update, it indicated most of the cases were in children under five years old. In the original statement about the investigation, the FDA pointed out that in four of the seven cases that were known at the time, the illness affected a child under three years old.
What you can do:
The FDA recommends that people check their refrigerators and freezers for those potentially contaminated cheese and throw away any of them that were bought on or after January 4. If cheese is found in the freezer and the brand cannot be identified, it should be tossed too. Retailers are asked to pull the cheeses from their shelves as well.
In addition to getting rid of the cheese, the FDA adds that people should carefully clean and sanitize surfaces or containers that the items may have touched to avoid cross-contamination.
Symptoms of E. coli
According to the FDA, symptoms appeared a few days after the cheese was eaten. They include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting.
The severity of the symptoms can depend on the type of E. coli in the product. Some strains can cause bloody diarrhea and possibly life-threatening conditions, like kidney failure, high blood pressure, neurological problems and more.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from a Food and Drug Administration statement. This story was reported from Orlando.