Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O26:H11: Raw Milk Cheese

Product

Recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses: medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack, and Monterey jack sold at retail in 8-oz or 16-oz packages and available to food service customers or wholesalers in 5-lb loaves.

Symptoms begin anywhere from a few days after consuming contaminated food or up to nine days later. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting.

The severity or presence of certain symptoms may depend on the type of pathogenic E. coli causing the infection. Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to life-threatening conditions, such as a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems.

Stores affected

Sold at retailers nationwide and online.

Status

Ongoing

Recommendations

• Do not eat, serve, or sell recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses (medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack, or Monterey jack varieties). Consumers who purchased recalled cheese may return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
• This product has a long shelf life. Check your refrigerators and freezers for the recalled raw milk cheeses and throw them away. If you refrigerated or froze cheese without the original packaging and can't tell if it's part of the recall, throw it away.
• Consumers, restaurants, retailers, and foodservice customers who purchased or received recalled raw milk cheese, including wholesale products, should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched. Follow FDA's safe handling and cleaning advice to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
• Retailers that received recalled product and repackaged it for individual sale should not sell it and remove the product from the market.
• Consult your health care provider immediately if you ate recalled this brand of cheese and have any symptoms of an E. coli infection.