Washington– A dairy producer in California was investigated by health authorities amid… Continuing outbreak of Escherichia coli bacteria It is recalling some of its raw cheese products, after initially refusing to do so.
Raw Farm in Fresno, Calif., said Thursday it will voluntarily recall more than six types of cheddar cheese made with raw milk. The recalled batches carry expiration dates extending from May 2026 to September 2026.
Interest in and sales of raw milk has been growing in recent years, driven by social media and growing support from Secretary of Health Robert Kennedy Jr. “Make America Healthy Again” movement.. Raw milk is not pasteurized, which kills germs such as E. coli, salmonella, Listeria And Campylobacter.
The Food and Drug Administration began investigating cases of E. coli food poisoning among people who reportedly ate the company’s products last month and had previously requested a product recall.
In an update last week, the FDA said it was conducting an inspection of the company’s facilities but found no positive test for E. coli bacteria among the company’s products.
Raw Farm reiterated that point in its announcement on Thursday and added that it was being withdrawn “under protest” and in order to chart a “path forward.”
“This voluntary recall is limited to Raw Farm brand cheddar cheese, and no other products are being voluntarily recalled,” the company said.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to require food companies to recall their products when there is a reasonable risk of serious injury or death, but the agency must first give the company the opportunity to voluntarily comply.
The US Food and Drug Administration said last week that nine people, including children, had fallen ill due to the outbreak.
Of eight people interviewed by health officials, seven reported consuming Raw Farm brand products, according to the FDA. Two people in 2025 reported drinking Raw Farm milk, and five people in 2026 said they ate or were served raw cheddar cheese from Raw Farm.
The FDA said genetic sequencing of E. coli strains taken from sick people shows they are all closely related, suggesting that people in an outbreak “share a common source of infection.”
The federal government does not allow the sale Unpasteurized milk across state lines For human consumption. States have widely varying regulations regarding raw milk, with some allowing retail sales in stores and others allowing sales on farms only. Some states allow so-called cow-cow partnerships, where people pay for milk from certain animals, and some allow consumption only by farm owners, employees, or “non-paying guests.”
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