Sierra Nevada Cheese Company Recalls Raw Milk Cheeses Due to E. coli Outbreak

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company has initiated a nationwide recall of all its Grazier Raw Milk Cheese products following an E. coli contamination investigation that has sickened 13 people, eight of whom required hospitalization. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating the outbreak.

The company is recalling all Grazier Raw Milk Cheese products because it cannot identify specific lot numbers or production dates at risk. Illnesses have been reported across nine states, including California, Colorado, and Michigan. The identified E. coli O26:H11 strain can cause severe, potentially fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

The affected cheeses were sold at retailers nationwide and online, although specific retailers have not been named by the FDA. Sierra Nevada Cheese Company advises consumers not to consume the recalled cheese. Customers are encouraged to dispose of the product or return it to their place of purchase for a refund.

Symptoms of E. coli infection typically include diarrhea appearing a few days after exposure. While most individuals recover within a week, severe complications like Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening condition affecting the kidneys, can occur. Three individuals linked to this outbreak have developed HUS.