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Raw Farm, the largest distributor of raw milk cheese in the United States, has issued a voluntary recall of its products following a multistate E. coli outbreak.
The company maintains that tests on its cheese have come back negative for harmful bacteria, including E. coli, and is moving forward with the recall only “under protest” while continuing to dispute the links cited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Newsweek reached out to Raw Farm for comment via the contact form on its website.
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Why It Matters
The E. coli outbreak has affected nine people in three states, with illnesses occurring between September 2025 and February 2026, according to the latest FDA update.
Three patients have been hospitalized, and one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition that can lead to kidney failure. More than half of the reported cases involve children under five. No deaths have been reported.
What To Know
In its April 2 update, Raw Farm said that no pathogens have been found in its cheese, including in samples collected directly by the FDA or by state health departments.
In an update issued by the FDA, Raw Farms described the voluntary recall “as a path forward” but stressed that it does not accept the FDA’s claims that its products are connected to the outbreak.
The recall is limited to its branded cheddar cheese, and consumers are advised to return these products to the store for a full refund. Raw Farms said in the statement that it is "issuing a Voluntary Recall of the batches of cheese below and any batches produced prior to these dates."
- 8 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Block: Batch Number 20251027-2, Expiration Date 8/23/2026, Barcode 835204001177
- 80 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Block: Batch Number 20251015-4, Expiration Date 8/11/2026, Barcode 835204001160
- 16 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Block: Batch Number 20251027-4, Expiration Date 8/23/2026, Barcode 835204000156
- 80 oz Bag of Original Cheddar Shred: Batch Number 20260205, Expiration Date 5/6/2026, Barcode 835204000194
- 16 oz Jalapeno Cheddar Block: Batch Number 20251128-1J, Expiration Date 9/24/2026, Barcode 835204000354
- 8 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Shred, Batch Number 20260212, Expiration Date 5/13/2026, Barcode 835204001184
- 8 oz Jalapeno Cheddar Block, Batch Number 20251128-2J, Expiration Date 9/24/2026, Barcode 835204000330
Raw Farm has also publicly expressed strong disagreement with the FDA, describing the agency’s suggested link as false and the allegations as extreme.
The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to investigate the outbreak, conducting on-site inspections and collecting samples from Raw Farms’ facilities.
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What People Are Saying.
Raw Farm USA, in a post on Instagram: “WE 100% DISAGREE WITH THE FDA’S FALSE 'POSSIBLE LINK', AND EXTREME ALLEGATIONS.”
Lawmakers in the Food Safety Caucus said in a joint statement prior to the voluntary recall: “The FDA recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from sale after they determined it was the likely source of an ongoing E. coli outbreak. Raw Farm refused. We have one message for Raw Farm and FDA: get it off the shelves – now.”
Consumer Guidance
While no positive E. coli tests have been found in the company’s cheese to date, the FDA has urged consumers not to eat, sell, or serve any Raw Farm brand block or shredded cheddar purchased on or after January 4, 2026.
The agency recommends checking freezers and refrigerators for the products and discarding any frozen cheese without original packaging that cannot be identified. Anyone who purchased the product is urged to return it for a full refund or dispose of it safely.
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