TOPIC: Raw Cheddar Cheese by Raw Farm: Recall - Due to Potential Contamination with E. Coli 0157:H7
AUDIENCE: Consumer, Health Professional, Emergency Medicine
ISSUE: On February 15, 2024 Raw Farm was contacted by the FDA and CDC regarding the epidemiological possibility that Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese might have caused some illnesses within a date range of October 18, 2023 and January 31, 2024. During this period, there were ten fecal samples collected from patients in 4 states that appeared to match one another in the National PULSENET database. Some of these patients did not report consumption of any Raw Farm cheddar cheese or other raw dairy products. In cooperation and collaboration with the CDC and FDA, Raw Farm is recalling the affected products.
Product en-route for delivery, being delivered now, and in the future is not affected by this recall. Only Raw Cheddar Cheese, Pound Block and Half Pound Block on the retail shelf, which should have a date code of 20231113-1 or older should be recalled. Raw Cheddar Cheese - Half Pound Shred with date code of 20240116 or older should be recalled. This recall does not affect any products other than raw cheddar cheese with these specific date codes.
No product samples consumed by consumers or products available for sale have tested positive for E.Coli 0157:H7. This recall is in abundance of caution strictly based on fecal samples submitted to PULSENET.
For more information about this recall, click on the red button Read Recall below.
BACKGROUND: Ill people have reported purchasing RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar Cheese at Sprouts Farmers Market and Bristol Farms.
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.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Do not eat, sell, or serve RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar cheese products.
- Check your refrigerators and freezers for the RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar cheese (blocks or shredded) and throw them away. If you froze a product without the original packaging and can’t identify the brand, throw it away.
- Consumers, restaurants, and retailers who purchased or received RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar 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 purchased this product and repackaged it for individual sale should remove the product from the market.
- Due to the range in severity of illness, people should consult their health care provider if they suspect that they have developed symptoms that resemble an E. coli infection.
- If you have any of these raw cheddar cheese date codes, please do not consume and return for credit.
- For more information, please contact Customer Service at 559-846-9732 or email josh.l@rawfarmusa.com or aaron.m@rawfarmusa.com.
RESOURCES:
CDC Outbreak Advisory
FDA Outbreak Investigation
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