Protecting families from contaminated food and water
All fields are required
Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in E. coli,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on March 30, 2026
Despite epidemiological link, no recall has been announced in E. coli outbreak.
More cases have been added since the mid-March announcement of an E. coli outbreak linked to RAW FARM raw dairy products.
How many people are linked to this outbreak? How do we know the cases are related? Why has no recall for the epidemiologically-linked dairy product been announced? What can consumers do to protect themselves?
As of the last U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outbreak update on March 26, 2026, a total of nine people have been identified with the outbreak strain of E. coli. Two were added since the March 15th update.
Seven cases have been reported in California. One case was reported in Texas and another in Florida.
People report illness onset beginning as early as September 1, 2025. The last illness onset in this update was reported as February 20, 2026.
E. coli Outbreak
9 Cases
3 Hospitalizations
1 Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Complication
Three of those cases required hospitalization. One of which experienced a life-threatening kidney complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Over half of the illnesses reported in this outbreak have been children under the age of five years old.
How exactly does the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) know that these cases are linked?
That’s all part of the outbreak investigation.
In addition to state and local health official interviews, patient samples were collected. According to the FDA, “Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of E. coli isolates from ill people shows that they are all closely related genetically to each other. This means that the people in this outbreak are likely to share a common source of infection.”
Patient and caregiver interviews filled in the rest of the gaps.
Nearly all (8 out of 9) patients were interviewed. All those available for interview indicated consuming or being served raw dairy products in the time leading up to becoming sick. Of the eight people interviewed, seven had brand information available. Those seven people reported consuming or being served RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese. Two people reported consuming RAW FARM-brand raw milk in 2025. According to the FDA, “affected RAW FARM-brand raw milk from 2025 should no longer be for sale.”
While epidemiological data points strongly in the direction of RAW FARM-brand raw cheese as the food vehicle for this E. coli outbreak, the investigation is ongoing.
The FDA has begun onsite inspections of the RAW FARM facilities in coordination with state partners.
To date, the FDA has not been made aware of any positive E. coli tests in RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese products. Additional sampling is expected soon.
But for now, there is no recall included in the outbreak advisory. However, “FDA will update this advisory should additional information become available.”
In many cases, when approached with a possible connection to a foodborne outbreak, manufacturers opt to initiate a voluntary recall “out of an abundance of caution.” This is not the case with this company.
In a statement to the public on their website, a spokesperson explains that they have strenuous testing of products leaving their facility. They indicate that they have not found any E. coli in their products or environmental samples. They also indicate that they have cooperated with recalls in the past, however the last time this RAW FARM raw cheddar product was in the news for an E. coli outbreak they initially recalled their products and then backtracked. Rescinding the recall for similar reasons to those being used in this outbreak.
We have two conflicting bits of information before us.
On one hand, we have patients with a strong epidemiological connection to RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese products. Just about every sick person (save for one) says they ate the aged raw dairy product prior to becoming sick.
Then you have laboratory tests. According to RAW FARM records, no E. coli has been found in their products or environmental samples. It is unclear as to whether these are in-house tests, third party analysis, or how the samples were obtained.
So, the next logical question is, could the testing be flawed?
There could be any number of reasons for false negatives in laboratory tests. The most common being sample size and concentration of pathogen. This is most commonly seen in batch-produced products like large-scale packaged foods and dairy products.
Imagine you have a small contamination event in the batch of milk used to make this cheese. You have a large vat of milk destined to be yummy cheese. But a small (trace) number of bacteria gets in the container. Whether from a line that missed a cleaning, poor seal in the milking barn, trace contamination in the mixing vats. It could happen anywhere.
Say you have less than 20 or so bacterial cells in a 50-gallon tank. If you are taking a couple of teaspoons out to test, you may not see those germs. It isn’t until they are given the time and ideal conditions to grow that you get infectious quantities.
Even blocks of cheese being selected for testing prior to leaving the facility could be negative, while neighboring blocks contain the harmful germ.
When it comes to those consuming the product, we already know that many people have a healthy enough immune system to not get sick or seriously sick from consuming small amounts of these germs. However, those who are more vulnerable (like children, the elderly, and those with a weakened immune system) are more likely to get sick.
While no recall is announced in this outbreak, it is unclear which lots of RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar may be involved. It is a good idea for consumers to use their best judgement when consuming raw dairy products, under all circumstances. Including an ongoing probable connection to an outbreak.
Raw milk, by definition, has not been heat-treated to kill potentially present bacteria. E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, and others have been associated with raw milk outbreaks in the past. New data on bird flu also points to a potential exposure risk in raw milk.
Consumers, especially those who are more vulnerable to raw milk-related illnesses, should choose pasteurized dairy options instead.
The outbreak investigation is ongoing. It is unclear whether RAW FARM will continue to deny a recall for their raw cheddar products or if the FDA will assert their authority and announce an involuntary recall or create a public health advisory on the product.
Additional information and product testing will likely determine subsequent actions.
If you have become seriously ill with an E. coli infection from RAW FARM-brand raw dairy products or some other raw milk products and wish to make a legal claim for compensation, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has an E. coli lawyer that can help.
Medical bills, lost work, and other burdens associated with foodborne illness add up. The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has successfully won millions of dollars in products liability and food poisoning cases and they can help you too!
Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for a free, no obligation consultation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)