Federal health officials are urging families to check their refrigerators and freezers after an E. coli outbreak linked to Graziers raw milk cheese sickened 13 people in nine states. Eight people were hospitalized, and three developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication that can cause kidney failure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No deaths have been reported.
The cheese is made by Sierra Nevada Cheese Company and was sold at retailers nationwide and online. On Sept. 24, the Food and Drug Administration contacted the company about the outbreak and recommended a recall. The company agreed the same day to recall all Graziers raw milk cheeses.
Timing is the main concern for households. Raw milk cheese keeps for a long time, so a block bought in July could still be in a cheese drawer or freezer today. The CDC's Sept. 25 notice was direct: "These products have a long shelf life. Check your homes for any of the recalled cheese."
Four Cheeses to Check at Home
The recall covers four Graziers grass-fed raw milk varieties: medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack, and Monterey jack. Retail packages came in 8-ounce and 16-ounce sizes. Restaurants, food service customers, and wholesalers received 5-pound loaves.
The FDA says consumers should not eat the cheese and may return it to the place of purchase for a refund. If you refrigerated or froze cheese without its original packaging and cannot tell whether it is part of the recall, the agency advises throwing it away. Clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers the cheese touched. The FDA also told retailers that received the cheese and repackaged it for individual sale not to sell it.
In a statement reported by ABC News, the company said the reported illnesses were associated with its medium cheddar. It said it recalled every Graziers raw milk variety "out of an abundance of caution as the investigation has not narrowed down a specific lot or date code."
Young Children Make Up Most Cases
Illnesses have been reported in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah. People got sick between July 7 and Aug. 26, 2026.
Patients range in age from 1 to 58, with a median age of 5. More than half are children 5 or younger, the CDC reported. Of the 13 people with information available, eight (62%) were hospitalized.
The CDC says the true number of sick people is likely much higher than reported, because many people recover without medical care and are never tested. It usually takes three to four weeks to determine whether a new illness is part of an outbreak, so recent illnesses may not be counted yet. The agency also says the outbreak may not be limited to the nine states with known cases.
The Kidney Complication Doctors Watch For
The FDA identifies the outbreak strain as E. coli O26:H11, a Shiga toxin-producing type. Symptoms can begin a few days after eating contaminated food or up to nine days later. They include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
Some infections lead to HUS, which the FDA describes as a type of kidney failure. The agency notes that HUS can also lead to high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems. According to the CDC, HUS is most common among children younger than 5, which is why this outbreak's age profile concerns health officials.
The CDC's outbreak notice lists symptoms that call for a call to a health care provider: diarrhea with a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, diarrhea for more than two days that is not improving, bloody diarrhea, vomiting so severe that liquids will not stay down, and signs of dehydration such as not peeing much, a dry mouth and throat, or feeling dizzy when standing up.
Parents should also watch for a child who pees less often, seems very tired or irritable, or loses the pink color in the cheeks and inside the lower eyelids. The CDC lists these as signs of HUS. Anyone who ate the recalled cheese and has symptoms should contact a health care provider and mention the exposure. This article is general information and is not a diagnosis.
Investigators Still Searching for the Source
The link between the cheese and the illnesses rests on interviews and genetic testing. All nine sick people who were interviewed reported eating Graziers raw milk cheese. The CDC says that share is significantly higher than the 4.9% of respondents in its FoodNet Population Survey who reported eating raw milk cheese. Whole genome sequencing showed that bacteria from sick people's samples are closely related genetically, which suggests they got sick from the same food.
Federal agencies have not reported a positive test of the cheese itself. The FDA says its investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and whether other products may be affected, and it will update its advisory as more information becomes available.
This is not the first E. coli outbreak tied to raw dairy this year. In March, the CDC investigated an outbreak linked to Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese and raw milk. Pasteurization heats milk enough to kill harmful germs, and the CDC's current notice repeats its standing advice: "Choose pasteurized milk and dairy products. This is especially important for children under 5 because they are more likely to get a severe foodborne illness." The FDA's raw milk safety guidance explains the risks in more detail.
Health officials expect the case count to change as delayed reports arrive, and future CDC and FDA updates may add illnesses or narrow down the affected products.
Key Questions Answered
Which cheeses are recalled? All Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses from Sierra Nevada Cheese Company: medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack, and Monterey jack. They were sold in 8-ounce and 16-ounce retail packages and 5-pound food service loaves.
How many people are sick? The CDC reported 13 illnesses in nine states on Sept. 25, 2026. Eight people were hospitalized, three developed HUS, and no deaths have been reported.
Who is most at risk? Young children. More than half of the patients in this outbreak are 5 or younger, and HUS is most common among children younger than 5.
What symptoms should parents watch for? Severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, nausea, and vomiting. Peeing less often, unusual tiredness or irritability, or pale cheeks and inner eyelids can signal HUS and need prompt medical attention.
What should I do if I have the cheese? Do not eat it. Throw it away or return it to the store for a refund, then clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers it touched. If you cannot tell whether unlabeled cheese is from a recalled package, throw it away.
Has the source of contamination been found? Not yet. The FDA says its investigation is ongoing to find the source and determine whether other products are affected.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
