CDC Warns of E. Coli outbreak linked to raw cheddar cheese

A CDC food safety alert regarding a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections has been posted at (lhttps://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/rawcheese-03-26/index.html).

Key Points:

• CDC, FDA, and public health officials in three states (California, Florida, and Texas) are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections linked to raw cheddar cheese sold by Raw Farm
• Seven people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from these three states. Two people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
• While the investigation is ongoing, if you have any of these affected cheeses in your home, consider not eating them.
• Over half of the illnesses are in children under the age of 5.
• What People Should Do:
• If you have any of these affected cheeses in your home, consider not eating them.
• Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any severe E. coli symptoms.
• Consider washing surfaces and containers that may have touched these cheeses using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

E. coli Symptoms:

• Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
• Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
• Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
• Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.
• Clues that someone is developing HUS include decreased frequency of urination, feeling very tired, and losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids.
• For more information about E. coli, see the About Escherichia coli Infection.
• If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state's health department.