Food Safety Caucus Urges FDA to Force Raw Farm Recall in Response to E. Coli Outbreak

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Congressional Food Safety Caucus, chaired by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D–Conn.), is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to force a recall of Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese linked to a multistate E. coli outbreak after the company declined a voluntary recall.

The caucus released a joint statement March 20 following reports of E. coli contamination linked to cheddar cheese made from raw milk by Raw Farm.

As of March 15, seven people in three states — including three children under the age of 3 — have reported being sickened by E. coli contamination linked to Raw Farm’s cheese, reports FDA. Two have been hospitalized.

FDA has the authority to mandate a recall through legal action if a company refuses to voluntarily remove unsafe food from the market.

The caucus raised concerns about U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s connection to the company, describing him as a longtime customer. When RFK ran for president in 2024, his campaign visited Raw Farm, a stop the company highlighted on its website.

Caucus Statement.

The caucus released the following statement:

“The FDA recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from sale after they determined it was the likely source of an ongoing E. coli outbreak. Raw Farm refused. We have one message for Raw Farm and FDA: get it off the shelves — now. 

“Two people have been hospitalized because of this outbreak, with several more falling ill. More than half of the illnesses were in children aged 3 or younger. This cannot stand. If Raw Farm refuses to take unsafe products off the market, FDA must use its mandatory recall authority and take them to court. A company should not be able to flatly refuse a recall recommendation. That puts consumers health at risk to protect the profits of a corporation.

“FDA must act so consumers are not subject to the whims of corporations that would put their profits over public health. And if mandatory authority needs to be strengthened, the Food Safety Caucus stands ready to tackle this issue at FDA’s request.

“Secretary Kennedy’s connection to Raw Farm and FDA’s lack of action here raise serious questions. At bare minimum, this is a potentially concerning conflict of interest. At worst, Secretary Kennedy is once again playing dangerous games with American’s health.” 

Outbreak Details.

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.

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. 

Raw Farm Denies Allegations.

Raw Farm, the largest producer of raw dairy in the United States, based in Fresno, Calif., released a social media statement stating it “100% disagrees” with FDA’s allegations linking its products to the outbreak.

“We disagree 100% with the allegations made by the FDA and the CDC,” reads the statement. “All of our products have been confirmed to be negative for all harmful bacteria, including E. coli 0157-H7. FDA has found no Raw Farm products to be tested positive for E. coli in the marketplace. Inaccurate statements made by the FDA and CDC linking our brand to an outbreak is egregious and extreme harassment towards our brand.”