Raw milk cheese recall: Urgent E. coli alert in 9 states
A raw milk cheese recall is underway nationwide after federal health officials linked Sierra Nevada Cheese Company’s Graziers Raw Milk Cheese to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 13 people in nine states. The California company launched a voluntary recall of all Graziers raw milk cheese on Sept. 25, according to the FDA.
The FDA contacted the company about the outbreak investigation on Sept. 24, Food Safety News reported. In its recall notice, the company said it “immediately stopped production and shipment of all Graziers Raw Milk Cheese” and alerted customers who bought directly from it.
Investigators haven’t tied the illnesses to a specific lot, date code or production date, so the company is pulling every Graziers raw milk cheese currently in distribution.
Which cheeses are in the raw milk cheese recall
The recall covers four varieties in five retail packages:
- Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar, 16-ounce brick (UPC: 6-87652-16501-3)
- Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar, 8-ounce square (UPC: 6-87652-16506-8)
- Graziers Raw Milk Sharp Cheddar, 8-ounce square (UPC: 6-87652-16507-5)
- Graziers Raw Milk Jalapeño Jack, 8-ounce square (UPC: 6-87652-16403-0)
- Graziers Raw Milk Monterey Jack, 8-ounce square (UPC: 6-87652-16400-9)
Larger loaves and blocks sold to wholesalers and food service customers are also included, Today reported:
- Monterey Jack, 5-pound loaf (item 6425)
- Jalapeño Jack, 5-pound loaf (item 6426)
- Medium Cheddar, 5-pound loaf (item 6510)
- Sharp Cheddar, 5-pound loaf (item 6511)
- Cheddar, 40-pound block (items 6515 and 6516)
Who has gotten sick
As of Sept. 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had counted 13 illnesses in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah, with most cases in California and Nevada. Eight people have been hospitalized, including three who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.
Young children are bearing the brunt of the outbreak: More than half of the people who got sick are 5 or younger. Illnesses began between July 7 and Aug. 26. All nine sick people whom investigators interviewed said they had eaten the raw milk cheese.
The outbreak strain is E. coli O26, a Shiga toxin-producing type. The CDC says the true number of illnesses is likely higher, because many people recover without seeing a doctor, and it can take three to four weeks to confirm whether a new case is part of an outbreak.
Where the cheese was sold
The FDA says the recalled cheese was sold in stores across the country and online, but it has not released a list of retailers. The larger loaves and blocks went to wholesale and food service buyers.
What to do if you have recalled cheese
Don’t eat or serve any recalled Graziers raw milk cheese. Hard cheese keeps for a long time, so check your refrigerator even if you bought it weeks ago. Return it to the store for a refund or throw it away.
E. coli symptoms usually show up three to four days after eating contaminated food, though they can take as long as nine days, according to the Mayo Clinic and the FDA. Common signs include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody, and sometimes a low fever.
The CDC advises calling a health care provider right away for bloody diarrhea, diarrhea that lasts more than two days, a fever above 102 F, vomiting so severe you can’t keep liquids down, or signs of dehydration. Health officials also recommend choosing pasteurized dairy products, especially for young children.
What’s next
The CDC and FDA investigation remains open, and Sierra Nevada Cheese Company said it is cooperating with both agencies. Anyone affected by the raw milk cheese recall can watch the CDC’s outbreak page for updates as officials learn more.
Reporting from Today, the CDC and Food Safety News contributed to this story.