E. coli Outbreak Linked to Raw Cheddar Cheese
Posted March 26, 2024
This outbreak is over. Learn what you can do to protect yourself from getting sick from E. coli.
Fast Facts
- Illnesses: 11
- Hospitalizations: 5
- Deaths: 0
- States: 5
- Recall: No
- Investigation status: Closed (first posted on February 16, 2024)
Outbreak Investigation Summary
Data showed that Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese made people in this outbreak sick.
- Seven sick people reported eating Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese in the week before they got sick.
- CDC warned against all raw cheese products from this firm. The outbreak investigation is now over, but this product has a long shelf life.
Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese that sick people may have eaten included:
- Flavors included original and jalapeno
- All sizes of blocks with best by dates through 10/4/2024
- All sizes of shredded cheese packages with best by dates through 5/10/2024
What You Should Do
- Be aware that unpasteurized dairy products are more likely to contain germs than pasteurized dairy products.
- Check your refrigerators and freezers for Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese products with the best by dates listed above and throw them away.
- Wash items and surfaces that may have touched the contaminated cheese using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.
Symptoms of E. coli
- Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
- Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
- Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
- Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.
- For more information about E. coli, see the E. coli Questions and Answers page.
