An outbreak of E. Coli Linked To Cheese Is On The Rise. See Affected Countries, Items.

Many people have become ill, and at least one person has become seriously ill during an ongoing outbreak linked to raw milk products.

More cases of E. coli, a food-borne disease, have been traced back to Raw Farm-brand unpasteurized cheese, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in an update on Thursday, March 26. A total of nine people have been confirmed to be sick in three states, more than half of them children under the age of 5, according to the agencies.

Three people were hospitalized, one with a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, which causes kidney damage and dysfunction.

The affected cheeses have yet to be removed from the market as Raw Farm, which is attached to the high-level outbreak, has refused the FDA’s request to recall its products, the agency said. The FDA is awaiting further sample testing to confirm the source of the outbreak.

Here’s what you need to know about the rash.

Which Cheese Is Affected?

The outbreak has been traced back to cheddar cheese products sold by the Raw Farm brand. This includes:

• The real taste of Raw Farm cheddar cheese.
• All sizes of Raw Farm block and shredded cheese packages.
• Two people also reported getting sick in 2025 from Raw Farm-brand raw milk, but those products have already been removed from shelves, according to the CDC.

Which Regions Have E. Coli Cases?

As of March 26, nine people were sick, including two hospitalized, in three states. More than half of the cases involved children under 5 years of age.

• California (seven cases)
• Florida (one case)
• Texas (one case)

What to Do with Spoiled Cheddar Cheese

Raw Farm has rejected the FDA’s request for a voluntary recall of its cheese products, a decision that drew criticism from the Congressional Food Safety Caucus, which urged the food safety agency to use its authority to force a recall.

While the investigation is ongoing, the FDA and CDC advise against eating any affected cheeses and discarding them. The area that may have touched the cheese should be washed and cleaned with hot, soapy water.

What is Shiga Toxin-Producing E. Coli, or STEC?

Outbreaks of E. coli linked to cheese was identified as E. coli that produces Shiga toxin, or STEC. This type of E. coli is known to cause a serious kidney condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, according to the FDA.

Children are more likely to suffer from HUS, which damages blood vessels, according to the Mayo Clinic. This causes the red blood cells to break, leading to anemia and clots in the blood vessels. These clots can damage the kidneys and other organs and cause kidney failure or even death.

One case of HUS was reported to the FDA as of Thursday, March 26. No deaths were recorded.

Symptoms of E. Coli Poisoning

According to the CDC, symptoms of E. Coli poisoning appears two to eight days after exposure and usually lasts for about a week. This can include:

• Diarrhea and fever over 102°F
• Diarrhea for more than three days
• Bloody diarrhea
• Purging so much that you can’t keep fluids down
• Symptoms of dehydration, such as dry mouth, decreased urination and dizziness.
• Abdominal bloating, pain or constipation.

HUS has some additional symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic, including:

• Pallor or loss of color in the skin.
• Extreme fatigue.
• Easy damage.
• Unusual bleeding, such as bleeding from the nose and mouth.
• Decreased urination or blood in the urine.
• Swelling, called edema, of the legs, feet or ankles.
• Confusion, fainting or stroke.
• High blood pressure.

What You Should Know About Raw/Unpasteurized Milk

Raw Farm, located in Fresno, California, is a wholesaler of raw or unpasteurized milk products, or milk that has not been heated to kill harmful bacteria.

The pasteurization process became common in commercial milk supply in the United States in the 1920s and became widespread in the 1950s. As a result, diseases often spread through milk decreased.

Although misinformation about this process has led some to believe that pasteurized milk has no nutritional value or is better for people with lactose intolerance, pasteurization does not significantly affect milk nutrition or milk content. In some states, selling raw milk directly to the consumer is illegal.

Raw milk can carry a number of harmful bacteria, such as salmonella, E. coli, listeria and Staphylococcus aureus, among several others. These bacteria are known to cause a number of diseases, including listeriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria, Guillain-Barré syndrome, miscarriage, brucellosis, chronic inflammatory conditions, arthritis and death.

US Reps Seek Recall of Raw Dairy Products

Members of the Food Safety Caucus issued a joint statement on March 20 from 10 members of the US House of Representatives, demanding that the FDA intervene. Raw Farm, the largest commercial producer of raw dairy products in the United States, has been the source of several outbreaks over the past two decades.

“The FDA recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily withdraw its raw cheese products after it determined that they were the likely source of the ongoing E. coli outbreak,” the committee said in a March 20 statement. “Raw Farm declined. We have one message for Raw Farm and the FDA: get them off the shelves — now.”

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has historically been a supporter of raw dairy products and knows the connection to Raw Farm, in particular. In June 2024, Raw Farm boasted that RFK’s campaign had visited their farm, saying that RFK had “protected the interests of the American people.” That same month, Kennedy publicly stated that he “drinks only raw milk.”

“Secretary Kennedy’s connection with Raw Farm and the FDA’s lack of action here raise serious questions. At the very least, this may be related to a conflict of interest. At worst, Secretary Kennedy has once again played dangerous games with the health of the American people,” said the statement of the Food Safety Caucus.

USA TODAY reached out to HHS and Raw Farm for comment on March 27, but did not receive a response.

This article first appeared in USA TODAY: E. Coli outbreak linked to cheese grows. See affected regions, objects.

Reporting by Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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