Outbreak linked to cheddar cheese sickens at least seven
At least seven individuals across three states, including young children, have been affected by E. coli food poisoning associated with cheddar cheese made from raw milk, federal health officials reported. The outbreak, which has resulted in hospitalizations, raises concerns about food safety within the dairy industry, reports BritPanorama.
The California-based Raw Farm is cited as the likely source of the contaminated cheese, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, no Raw Farm products have tested positive for E. coli during the outbreak period, the FDA indicated.
Illnesses linked to the cheese were reported between September 2025 and mid-February, with five cases emerging in California and one each in Florida and Texas. Notably, more than half of those affected were children aged three or younger, and two individuals required hospitalization.
In response to the outbreak, the FDA recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily withdraw its raw cheese products from sale, a request the company has declined. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention further advised consumers to “consider not eating” these products.
Mark McAfee, owner of Raw Farm, stated he would not recall the products, contending that investigators have yet to establish a definitive link between the cheese and the reported illnesses. “They have found no pathogens in any of our products,” he affirmed, disputing the FDA’s assertion that the cases were genetically linked and characterizing the outbreak announcement as premature.
Interviews with three affected individuals revealed that all reported consuming Raw Farm brand raw milk cheddar cheese. Genetic analysis of E. coli isolates from the patients indicated a close genetic relationship, according to FDA investigators. Authorities continue to gather information regarding the additional four reported cases as part of an ongoing investigation into the source of contamination and the potential link to other products.
