WILLOWS, Calif. – A California cheese company has halted production and pulled all of its raw milk cheese from store shelves nationwide after federal health officials linked the products to a multistate E. coli outbreak that has sickened more than a dozen people, most of them young children.
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company issued a voluntary recall of its Graziers Raw Milk Cheese on September 29 after the FDA and CDC identified 13 illnesses across nine states tied to the products. Eight people have been hospitalized, and three have developed a severe kidney complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
The outbreak is a stark reminder of the risks associated with unpasteurized dairy, particularly for children under five, who make up more than half of the reported cases.
What Products Are Recalled?
The recall covers all Graziers Raw Milk Cheese currently in distribution, regardless of lot number or production date. Federal investigators have not yet identified a specific source of contamination, so the company is pulling every variety as a precaution.
The affected products include:
- Graziers Raw Milk Monterey Jack (8 oz square, UPC 6-87652-16400-9)
- Graziers Raw Milk Jalapeño Jack (8 oz square, UPC 6-87652-16403-0)
- Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar (8 oz square, UPC 6-87652-16506-8)
- Graziers Raw Milk Sharp Cheddar (8 oz square, UPC 6-87652-16507-5)
- Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar (16 oz brick, UPC 6-87652-16501-3)
Larger formats sold to food service and wholesale customers are also included: 5-pound loaves of Monterey Jack, Jalapeño Jack, Medium Cheddar, and Sharp Cheddar, plus 40-pound Cheddar blocks.
The cheese was distributed nationwide through retailers, distributors, and online sellers.
The Outbreak by the Numbers
The CDC’s investigation, updated September 25, paints a concerning picture:
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Total illnesses | 13 |
| Hospitalizations | 8 (62%) |
| HUS cases | 3 |
| Deaths | 0 |
| States affected | 9 (CA, CO, GA, KY, MI, NV, OR, TN, UT) |
| Age range | 1 to 58 years |
| Median age | 5 years |
| Children 5 and under | Over half |
Illnesses began between July 7 and August 26, 2026. Of the nine people interviewed by health officials, all nine reported eating Graziers raw milk cheese before getting sick, a rate far higher than the baseline consumption of unpasteurized cheese in the general population.
Why Raw Milk Cheese Is Risky
Raw milk cheese is made from unpasteurized milk, which has not been heated to kill harmful bacteria. While pasteurization eliminates pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, raw milk retains them.
E. coli O26:H11, the strain identified in this outbreak, is a Shiga toxin-producing bacteria. Most people recover within a week, but a subset, especially children under 5, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, can develop HUS, which causes red blood cell breakdown, low platelet count, and kidney failure.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has long warned against raw milk products. “Pasteurized milk provides all the nutritional benefits of milk while eliminating harmful bacteria that can cause severe illness, particularly in young children,” said Dr. Robert Frenck, chair of the AAP Section on Infectious Diseases. “Raw milk, on the other hand, poses unnecessary health risks and has been linked to serious infections and hospitalizations.”
What Consumers Should Do
If you have any recalled Graziers cheese in your refrigerator or freezer, do not eat it. The products have a long shelf life, so check even if you bought them weeks ago.
The FDA recommends:
- Throw the cheese away or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
- Clean and sanitize any surfaces, containers, or refrigerator compartments that touched the recalled cheese.
- If you stored the cheese without its original packaging and can’t identify it, throw it away.
- Contact a healthcare provider if you develop symptoms after eating the recalled product.
Seek medical care immediately if you experience bloody diarrhea, diarrhea with a fever above 102°F, diarrhea lasting more than two days, or vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down.
Company Response
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company said it stopped production and shipment of all Graziers Raw Milk Cheese immediately after being contacted by the FDA. The company has notified direct customers and posted notices on its website and social media.
“We sincerely appreciate the understanding and continued support of our customers and community as we work through this recall,” the company said in an Instagram post.
Consumers with questions can contact Sierra Nevada Cheese Company at (530) 934-8662, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, or email [email protected].
The Bottom Line
This outbreak is the latest in a string of food safety incidents tied to raw dairy products. For families with young children, the message from health officials is unambiguous: pasteurized dairy offers the same nutritional benefits without the potentially life-threatening risks.
The FDA’s investigation into the source of the contamination is ongoing. As of now, no specific lot, production date, or facility issue has been identified, meaning the recall remains blanket across all Graziers raw milk products.
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