It’s an easy lunch: a few slices of grass-fed cheddar cut into cubes for a toddler’s snack box. But if that cheese is from one particular raw milk brand, health officials are urging families to throw it out. A multistate E. coli outbreak has put eight people in the hospital, and more than half of those who got sick are small children.
Key Takeaways
- Sierra Nevada Cheese Company of Willows, California, has recalled all of its Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses. The recall covers medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack and Monterey jack, sold nationwide in stores and online.
- As of September 29, 2026, the outbreak includes 13 illnesses in 9 states. Eight people were hospitalized and three developed a dangerous kidney complication. No deaths have been reported.
- More than half of those sickened are children 5 or younger. This age group is the most vulnerable to severe illness.
- The bacteria is E. coli O26:H11, a Shiga toxin-producing strain that can cause bloody diarrhea and, in some cases, kidney failure.
- Check your fridge and freezer. Hard cheese keeps for a long time, so recalled packages may still be in homes.
What’s happening now
The CDC announced the outbreak on September 25, 2026. As of the FDA’s September 29 update, 13 people have fallen ill in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah. Illnesses began over the summer, and the most recent known case started on August 26.
Eight people were sick enough to be hospitalized. Three developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a condition in which the toxin damages red blood cells and the kidneys. Investigators interviewed nine of the patients, and all nine said they had eaten Graziers raw milk cheese before getting sick. The company says medium cheddar is the variety most closely tied to the illnesses. The FDA says its investigation into the source of the contamination is ongoing.
The company’s recall covers every Graziers raw milk cheese currently in distribution, because no specific lot has been ruled out. That includes:
- Medium Cheddar: 8-oz square, 16-oz brick, 5-lb loaf, 40-lb block
- Sharp Cheddar: 8-oz square, 5-lb loaf, 40-lb block
- Monterey Jack: 8-oz square, 5-lb loaf, 40-lb block
- Jalapeño Jack: 8-oz square, 5-lb loaf </