A nationwide cheese recall is underway in the United States after health officials linked a popular line of raw-milk cheeses to a multistate outbreak of a potentially dangerous strain of E. coli.
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company of Willows, California, is voluntarily recalling all Sierra Nevada Graziers Raw Milk Cheese currently on the market because of possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26:H11. The FDA published the company announcement on September 29, 2026, and the outbreak investigation remains active. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
For consumers, the most important message is simple: this isn’t a recall of cheese in general. It involves specific Sierra Nevada Graziers raw-milk cheeses, and anyone who has purchased them should check the refrigerator or freezer before eating them.
Which Cheeses Are Being Recalled?
The recall covers Graziers Raw Milk Cheese produced by Sierra Nevada Cheese Company.
The affected varieties include Raw Milk Monterey Jack, Raw Milk Jalapeño Jack, Raw Milk Medium Cheddar and Raw Milk Sharp Cheddar, sold in multiple package sizes. Because investigators have not identified one specific production lot responsible for the outbreak, the company recalled all Graziers Raw Milk Cheese currently in circulation. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The cheeses were distributed nationwide through retail outlets and were also available for purchase online.
That means this isn’t limited to consumers in California, where the manufacturer is based.
13 People Have Been Sickened
As of the FDA’s latest outbreak information, 13 illnesses have been identified across nine states.
The cases have been reported in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah. Eight people have been hospitalized. People.com
Perhaps most concerning, three patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a serious complication that can damage the kidneys.
No deaths had been reported at the time of the latest update. People.com
Investigators Found a Strong Link to the Cheese
The connection between the outbreak and the recalled product isn’t based simply on suspicion.
State and local health officials interviewed nine sick people or their caregivers about what they had eaten before becoming ill.
All nine — 100% of those interviewed — reported eating Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw-milk cheese. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Investigators initially identified an epidemiological link involving Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar.
On September 24, the FDA contacted Sierra Nevada Cheese Company about the outbreak and recommended a recall. The company agreed and initiated one that same day, according to the FDA. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The formal company recall notice was subsequently published by the FDA on September 29.
Why Raw-Milk Cheese Requires Special Attention
The word “raw” is important here.
Raw-milk cheese is produced from milk that hasn’t undergone pasteurization, the heat treatment used to destroy many disease-causing microorganisms.
That doesn’t mean every raw-milk cheese contains harmful bacteria. But if pathogens are present in the original milk or contamination occurs during production, consumers can potentially be exposed to organisms such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria.
In this particular outbreak, investigators are dealing with E. coli O26:H11, a Shiga toxin-producing strain. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
What E. Coli O26 Can Do
Some types of E. coli live harmlessly in the human intestinal tract, so hearing the name alone doesn’t necessarily mean someone is facing a dangerous infection.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli is different.
Infection can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea — which may become bloody — nausea, vomiting and sometimes fever. People.com
Most people recover, but certain patients can develop HUS.
The complication can lead to kidney failure and is particularly concerning for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
The outbreak has already produced three reported HUS cases. People.com
Children Account for a Significant Share of the Cases
One particularly troubling detail is the age of some of the people affected.
More than half of the reported cases involve children 5 years old or younger, according to reporting based on the outbreak investigation. San Antonio Express-News
That’s significant because young children are among the groups at greater risk of serious complications from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
It’s also why families shouldn’t assume that cheese that looks, smells or tastes normal is necessarily safe.
Food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria doesn’t always show obvious signs of spoilage.
Check the Refrigerator — and the Freezer
This recall deserves attention even from people who haven’t purchased cheese recently.
Cheese can have a relatively long shelf life, and some consumers freeze it.
Anyone who has Sierra Nevada Graziers Raw Milk Cheese at home should therefore check both refrigerated and frozen products.
The FDA says consumers, restaurants and retailers should not eat, sell or serve the recalled cheeses. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The company’s recall instructions advise consumers to discard the affected cheese or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Cleaning the Kitchen Matters Too
Removing the cheese is only part of the response.
If a recalled product has been stored or prepared in the kitchen, consumers should also clean surfaces and items that may have come into contact with it.
That can include refrigerator shelves, cutting boards, knives, storage containers and countertops.
Cross-contamination is particularly important with foodborne pathogens because bacteria can potentially move from the original food onto surfaces or other foods.
The FDA specifically recommends careful cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces and containers that may have touched the recalled cheese. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
What to Do If You Ate It
Eating recalled cheese doesn’t automatically mean someone will become sick.
But the FDA advises people who ate the recalled product and develop symptoms consistent with E. coli infection to contact a healthcare provider promptly. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Symptoms can appear several days after exposure, so someone may initially feel completely normal.
Anyone seeking medical care should mention the possibility that they consumed a product involved in the recall.
The Investigation Is Still Active
There is one important reason this story may continue changing.
The FDA and CDC investigation is ongoing.
Officials are continuing traceback work to determine exactly where contamination occurred and whether additional information about affected products or distribution becomes available. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
So far, investigators have established a strong epidemiological association between the illnesses and Sierra Nevada Graziers raw-milk cheese, prompting the broad recall.
But they have not yet publicly identified one particular contaminated production lot.
That’s precisely why the recall encompasses all Graziers Raw Milk Cheese currently on the market, rather than a single package code. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
What Consumers Should Remember
This recall is broad, but it is also specific.
It does not mean consumers need to throw away every piece of cheddar, Monterey Jack or other cheese in their homes.
The products at issue are Sierra Nevada Graziers Raw Milk Monterey Jack, Jalapeño Jack, Medium Cheddar and Sharp Cheddar cheeses covered by the company’s recall. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
With 13 confirmed illnesses, eight hospitalizations and three serious HUS complications reported so far, however, this is one recall worth checking carefully.
A few seconds spent looking at a cheese label in the refrigerator could prevent someone from eating a product health officials have explicitly warned consumers not to serve. People.com
FDA’s official Sierra Nevada Graziers cheese recall notice
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