FDA Investigates Raw Cheese E. Coli Outbreak as Manufacturer Declines Recall

A multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections has been linked to RAW FARM-brand raw block and shredded cheddar cheeses. FDA has recommended that RAW FARM voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from the market, and the firm has declined. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating the outbreak, which, as of March 14, has caused seven confirmed infections in three states: California, Florida and Texas.

Known illness onset dates range from Sept. 1, 2025, to Feb. 13, 2026. Whole genome sequencing analysis of E. coli isolates from ill people shows that they are all closely related genetically to each other. This means that people in this outbreak are likely to share a common source of infection, said FDA. Additionally, four of the seven cases are in patients 3 years old or younger. Two patients have been hospitalized. No deaths or HUS cases have been reported.

State and local public health officials have interviewed three ill people about food exposures of interest in this outbreak. All three reported eating RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese.

State and local officials are working to gather additional data for the four other illnesses, including two that occurred in 2025, said FDA. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese products made by RAW FARM, LLC are the likely source of this outbreak, according to the agency.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products are linked to illnesses, said FDA. To date, to FDA’s awareness, no RAW FARM-brand cheddar cheese products from this time period have tested positive for E. coli, said the agency. As part of this investigation, state partners initiated collection of product samples for testing and analysis, but results are not yet available.

FDA will update this advisory should additional information become available.