Raw Farm Recalls Cheese Under Protest Amid E. coli Outbreak Investigation
A Fresno, California-based dairy producer, Raw Farm, has initiated a voluntary recall of its raw cheddar cheese products following an ongoing investigation into a multi-state E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. Despite the recall, the company is publicly challenging the link between its products and the illnesses, characterizing the regulatory actions taken by the FDA and CDC as targeted harassment.
According to federal health officials, the outbreak has claimed nine victims across California, Florida, and Texas. More than half of those infected are children under the age of five. Among those hospitalized, at least one individual has suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially fatal form of kidney failure. Epidemiologic data remains the focal point of the investigation; the California Department of Public Health reports that all interviewed patients identified Raw Farm-brand raw cheddar as the product consumed prior to falling ill.
While the firm is cooperating with the recall, its leadership remains defiant. The company’s official website features a bold disclaimer noting that the action is being performed “under protest.” The firm further cites internal and third-party testing that has yielded negative results for pathogens, arguing that the investigation lacks sufficient evidence to implicate its products.
“Raw Farm will not offer for introduction, introduce, or cause to be introduced into interstate commerce, deliver or cause to be delivered for introduction into interstate commerce, any unpasteurized raw milk or raw milk products.”
— Raw Farm, Official Corporate Website Statement
The FDA and CDC have identified Sprouts Farmers Market and H-E-B as major retailers where patients reported purchasing the implicated cheese. The outbreak, which features a strain known to cause severe illness, began as early as September 2025. Investigations initially linked two cases in 2025 to raw milk, while five cases identified in early 2026 have been specifically tied to the consumption of raw cheddar cheese.
The FDA has warned that other retailers may currently be stocking the affected products. Consumers in possession of these items are urged to return them to the point of purchase for a full refund. The recall includes several variations of Raw Farm products:
- Lightly Salted Cheddar Block (8oz, 16oz, and 80oz)
- Lightly Salted Cheddar Shredded (8oz)
- Original Cheddar Shredded (80oz)
- Jalapeño Cheddar Block (8oz and 16oz)
Although the company contends that its adherence to federal regulations prohibiting interstate shipping of raw milk makes it impossible to be responsible for the out-of-California cases, health officials maintain that the provided data points exclusively to the company’s supply chain. California regulators note that negative results from isolated retail samples do not negate the strong epidemiologic evidence connecting the illnesses to the brand.
As the FDA continues its probe, questions regarding the safety of unpasteurized dairy cross-state accessibility remain central to the ongoing, highly contentious investigation.
