DeLauro, Food Safety Caucus to Raw Farm, FDA: “Get it off the shelves – now.”

Today, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and U.S. RepresentativesSanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Chellie Pingree (ME-01),André Carson (IN-07), Alma Adams (NC-12), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Grace Meng (NY-06), Mark Takano (CA-39) - Members of the Food Safety Caucus - released a joint statement following reports of E. coli contamination linked to cheddar cheese made from raw milk by Raw Farm. Raw Farm is the largest producer of raw dairy in the United States. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a longtime customer of Raw Farm.

At least seven people in three states, including three young children, have been sickened by E. coli contamination linked to Raw Farm's cheese. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the cheese to be the "likely source" of the outbreak.The FDA can force a recall if a company refuses to voluntarily recall unsafe food. Raw Farms has, to date, refused FDA's voluntary recall recommendation.

"The FDA recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from sale after they determined it was the likely source of an ongoing E. coli outbreak," the Members said. "Raw Farm refused. We have one message for Raw Farm and FDA: get it off the shelves - now.

"Two people have been hospitalized because of this outbreak, with several more falling ill. More than half of the illnesses were in children aged 3 or younger. This cannot stand. If Raw Farm refuses to take unsafe products off the market, FDA must use its mandatory recall authority and take them to court. A company should not be able to flatly refuse a recall recommendation. That puts consumers health at risk to protect the profits of a corporation.

"FDA must act so consumers are not subject to the whims of corporations that would put their profits over public health. And if mandatory authority needs to be strengthened, the Food Safety Caucus stands ready to tackle this issue at FDA's request.

"Secretary Kennedy's connection to Raw Farm and FDA's lack of action here raise serious questions. At bare minimum, this is a potentially concerning conflict of interest. At worst, Secretary Kennedy is once again playing dangerous games with American's health. "

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged consumers to consider not eating Raw Farm cheese products. If you have these products, members of the Food Safety Caucus urge you to dispose of them immediately.