ATLANTA, Ga. — U.S. and local health authorities say a multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese remains active, with investigators tracing illnesses across multiple states and urging consumers to discard recalled products, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, Food Safety News, and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Each of the bullet points immediately below have been confirmed by at least four of the six respected sources we curated on this story.
- Federal officials say the outbreak involves Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 and is tied epidemiologically to RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar products.
- RAW FARM issued a voluntary recall on April 2 covering multiple block and shredded raw cheddar products, including bulk formats, while the investigation continued.
- Health agencies and public-health departments have advised consumers, retailers, and food-service operators not to eat, sell, or serve the recalled cheese.
- Officials reported illnesses across at least three states, with young children representing a substantial share of cases and severe outcomes including hospitalization and a reported HUS case.
- Investigators said outbreak genetics indicate a likely common source, while product-sample testing remained under review and updates were continuing.
Additional Details Reported
Case counts changed as agencies updated records
FDA and CDC updates show case totals and hospitalization counts evolving as interviews and lab work expanded across jurisdictions.
Public-health warnings emphasized high-risk groups
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and FDA warned that children, older adults, pregnant people, and immunocompromised individuals face higher risk of severe outcomes from contaminated raw dairy.
Recall compliance and contamination findings diverged
Los Angeles Times, Food Safety News, and Associated Press reported that the company disputed causation while carrying out a recall, as regulators continued sampling and traceback work.
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