E. coli Outbreak Linked to Raw Milk Cheese Spans Nine States

An outbreak of E. coli infections, linked to raw milk cheese produced by Sierra Nevada Graziers in Willows, California, has spread across nine states, resulting in 13 reported cases and multiple hospitalizations. Three of the cases have been reported in California.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall for four types of cheese manufactured by Sierra Nevada Graziers: medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack, and Monterey jack. These cheeses were sold in retail packages of 8-oz or 16-oz and in 5-lb loaves to food service customers and wholesalers.

Of the 13 individuals infected, more than half are children aged five years or younger. Eight people have been hospitalized, and three have developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a severe condition that can lead to kidney failure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Authorities are advising consumers to check if they possess any of the recalled cheese products and to discard them if found. Additionally, it is recommended to thoroughly clean any surfaces or items that may have come into contact with the implicated cheese using hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.

This incident follows a similar E. coli outbreak in March that was also linked to a California raw milk farmer. That outbreak affected nine individuals across three states, with seven cases in California, predominantly children under five. Raw Farm's raw cheddar cheese was recalled as a result of that earlier outbreak.

Sierra Nevada Cheese Co., based in Willows, California, was founded in 1997 and supplies cheese, butter, yogurt, and cream cheese to consumers nationwide. While California has reported three cases, Nevada has also reported three cases linked to this outbreak. The remaining seven states have each reported one case.