Raw milk cheese recalled following multi-state E.coli outbreak: FDA

Key Points:

• A recall has been issued for Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses, including medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack, and Monterey jack, after 13 people across multiple states were sickened with E. coli O26:H11, with eight hospitalizations reported.
• The affected cheeses were sold in 8-oz and 16-oz packages, and the last reported illness onset was August 26; the FDA and CDC are actively investigating the multistate outbreak.
• Consumers are urged not to eat, sell, or serve the recalled cheeses, and to discard any products or return them for a refund, while also sanitizing any surfaces or containers that came into contact with the cheese.
• The Sierra Nevada Cheese Company voluntarily issued the recall and is cooperating with the FDA, which continues to investigate the contamination source and potential additional affected products.
• E. coli symptoms may appear up to nine days after consumption and include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, and nausea; public health officials linked all interviewed sick individuals to consumption of the recalled cheese.