An E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk cheddar cheese at a California farm has spread to nine people in three states, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported. More than half of the people affected so far are children under 5 years old.
Three people had to be hospitalized after contracting a dangerous strain of E. coli, O157:H7, which produces toxins in the body that cause severe diarrhea, sometimes bloody, and abdominal cramps. A person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition that can cause kidney failure.
The FDA said samples taken from people who became ill between September 2025 and February 2026 were all closely genetically related to each other, meaning they were likely all infected from the same source. Seven cases were reported in California. Florida and Texas reported one case each.
The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say Raw Farm, a company based in Fresno, California, is the likely source of the outbreak. Interviews with seven of the patients revealed that they had consumed Raw Farm dairy products. Five specifically remembered eating the farm’s raw cheddar cheese, according to alerts sent by health agencies.
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As of Friday, no Raw Farm products had been reported to test positive for E. coli. The FDA has not issued a mandatory recall of Raw Farm products, but has instead recommended that Raw Farm remove cheese products from store shelves on its own.
Raw Farm president Aaron McAfee was very reluctant, telling NBC News that he will not voluntarily recall any of his products unless there is “direct evidence” that they are making people sick. That is, an analysis result that demonstrates that E. coli from a Raw Farm product has been found in the patients.
“We have analyzed 81 samples that we purchased from retail stores in California, where we continue to sell,” McAfee said. “and they all tested negative”.
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“If I had any concerns, I would have issued a voluntary recall,” he said.
McAfee noted that three FDA investigators have been at the facility for more than a week analyzing products both at the company and at retailers. He said test results from federal investigators won’t be available until next week.
Raw cheese is made from milk that has not been pasteurized, a process that heats it enough to destroy bacteria. The CDC warns that drinking or consuming products made from raw milk can expose people to a variety of germs, including listeria, salmonella, and E. coli.
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Before his appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was an advocate of raw milk. NBC News reported last year that McAfee hoped to advise Kennedy on ways to support raw milk, but those plans have not materialized.
With the new dietary guidelines, Kennedy Jr. has focused more on whole milk than raw dairy.
Raw Farm milk was linked to dozens of salmonella cases in 2024, and the company conducted a voluntary recall.
The FDA rarely orders withdrawals directly. Instead, when the agency identifies a potential safety problem — such as contamination or a labeling problem — it typically asks companies to voluntarily remove products from the market.
If a company does not comply, the FDA can intervene more aggressively, including issuing public warnings, seizing products, or going to court to force their removal from the market, often in coordination with state officials. In some cases, the agency can also order a recall if there is a “reasonable probability” that the product is contaminated or poses a serious risk to the public, although that authority is used sparingly.
In a statement, an FDA spokesperson said the agency’s investigation into the outbreak remains ongoing.
“The FDA continues to work with state partners to collect and test samples, collaborating with the CDC on known cases, and has issued an outbreak notice to inform consumers, restaurants and retailers of current events, as well as initiate an inspection on site“said the spokesperson. “As new evidence and data is obtained, we will continue to inform the public and evaluate all possible tools to further protect consumers.”
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Symptoms of E. coli infections usually appear between three and four days later contaminated foods are ingested and can include severe abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea, according to the CDC.
Most people recover on their own within a week, but some groups are at higher risk of complications, such as children under 5 years old, older people, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
Worrying symptoms that warrant seeing a doctor include dizziness, persistent diarrhea with a fever above 102ºF (38.9ºC), and the inability to keep fluids down without vomiting.
The CDC advises the public to “consider not consuming this cheese while the investigation continues” and to wash with hot soapy water, or in the dishwasher, any objects and surfaces — such as graters, knives, and countertops — that may have come into contact with the cheese.
