The FDA is tracking the outbreak of E. coli to RAW Farm raw cheddar cheese
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Federal regulators announced Sunday that the outbreak of E. coli that has infected at least seven people in three states has been traced to a raw cheddar cheese product.
Most of the people affected are children, ages 3 and under, across California, Texas and Florida, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Of the seven reported cases, five were in California, one in Florida and one in Texas.
“The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating the outbreak in multiple states E. coli O157:H7,” the FDA said. “As of March 14, 2026, 7 confirmed infections have been reported in three states.”
Authorities say investigators traced the outbreak to California producer RAW FARM, a family-owned company known as the largest producer of raw dairy products in the country.
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The FDA has issued a warning urging consumers of raw cheddar cheese products by RAW FARM to be linked to E. coli. (FDA/Fox News)
The FDA noted that RAW FARM declined to issue a voluntary recall of its burnt cheddar cheese product despite the agency’s recommendation.
In response, the dairy farm denied the allegations on its social media page on Monday, saying the health agency made “false allegations” about the product and no tests confirmed the E. coli strain.
“We disagree 100% with the allegations made by the FDA and CDC,” the company said. “All of our products are CERTIFIED to be free of all harmful bacteria, including Ecoli 0157-H7. The FDA has found NO Raw Farm products to be tested for Ecoli in the marketplace.”
“The inaccurate statements made by the FDA and the CDC linking our product to the outbreak are an extreme and overt abuse of our product,” it added.
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A package of cheddar cheese made from grass-fed cows is shown in this undated photo. (FDA/Fox News)
The FDA has confirmed that no RAW FARM–brand cheddar cheese products have tested positive for E. coli, but said federal partners have begun collecting product samples.
They added that investigators were able to track diseases using epidemiological data, a scientific method that analyzes the distribution, patterns, and causes of health-related events.
“Epidemiologic evidence indicates that RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar products manufactured by RAW FARM, LLC are the likely source of this outbreak,” the agency said.
Of the three interviewed, all reported eating RAW FARM-brand cheese, federal regulators said, adding that local officials are working to gather more information on the other four cases.
Tanned cheese is shown in a white bowl in this undated photo. (iStock / Stock)
At least two patients have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported from the outbreak, health officials said.
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Despite the company’s denial, the FDA issued a notice urging consumers and retailers to be careful with the cheese and clean any surfaces to avoid contamination.
IE. coli strain involved can cause serious, potentially life-threatening conditions, including acute kidney failure, stomach cramps, fever, nausea, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea, the FDA said. Illness usually begins anywhere from a few days to nine days after eating the contaminated food.
FOX Business has reached out to RAW FARM for additional comment.
