RAW FARM Raw Cheddar Tied to E. Coli Cases

With input from FOX Business, the Guardian, Reuters, NBC News, and PBS News.

Health officials say at least seven people in three states have fallen ill with a dangerous strain of E. coli linked to a raw cheddar cheese product — and the California producer at the center of the probe is pushing back and won’t pull the items from shelves.

Here’s what we know:

• Seven confirmed infections were reported between Sept. 1, 2025 and Feb. 13, 2026 — five cases in California, one in Florida and one in Texas. Many of the sickened are very young children (age 3 or under). Two people were hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.
• Federal investigators say epidemiological evidence points to a raw cheddar product as the likely source. The US Food and Drug Administration (the agency) is working with state partners to collect product samples and trace exposure. US Food and Drug Administration said three of the ill people interviewed reported eating the brand’s cheddar.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged people to “consider not eating” the affected products and to thoroughly wash and sanitize anything that came into contact with the cheese. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes E. coli O157:H7 can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and, in rare cases, life-threatening kidney damage — symptoms usually show up a few days to a week after exposure.

Which products are under the microscope? Officials flagged two items: all sizes of the original block labeled “Raw Cheddar” and all sizes of the shredded “Raw Cheddar.”

The named producer has strongly denied the government’s allegations on social media, calling the claims “false” and “extreme harassment toward our brand,” and saying no finished products have tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. Federal regulators stressed, however, that while no retail sample has yet matched the strain, the epidemiologic link (interviews + genetic sequencing of patient isolates) makes the brand the likely source — which is why the FDA recommended a voluntary recall. The producer declined.

Raw-milk cheeses skip pasteurization, which removes many pathogens. That makes them a higher-risk food, especially for young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system. Public-health experts warn that even a handful of contaminated packages can seed online sharing and wider exposure before a recall — which is why the agency’s request for a voluntary pull is a serious red flag.

If you own the named raw cheddar, don’t eat it. The CDC and FDA advise tossing it in a sealed bag or returning it to the store for a refund, and disinfecting surfaces, utensils and cutting boards that touched the product. Anyone who ate the cheese and develops severe diarrhea, blood in the stool, fever, or decreased urination should see a doctor right away and tell them about possible E. coli exposure.

State labs are still testing product samples and investigators are continuing interviews. The company’s refusal to recall will likely stiffen regulatory scrutiny — and could lead to a forced recall if testing finds contaminated product on store shelves. Meanwhile parents and caregivers in the affected states should be extra careful with anything made from raw milk.