Graziers Raw Milk Cheese Recalled Nationwide Over E. Coli

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company pulled every Graziers raw milk cheese from the market after an E. coli outbreak sickened 13 people across nine states.

On September 28, California-based Sierra Nevada Cheese Company voluntarily recalled all of its Graziers Raw Milk Cheese currently on the market, after the FDA linked the products to a multistate E. coli outbreak. Because investigators have not identified a specific lot, production date, or date code, the recall covers everything: medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño Jack, and Monterey Jack in 8-ounce squares, 16-ounce bricks, 5-pound loaves, and even 40-pound blocks sent to food service and wholesale customers. The company says it immediately stopped production and shipment and notified direct customers, according to The Healthy.

The FDA and CDC are investigating an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) tied to the cheese, with 13 illnesses reported in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah. Eight people were hospitalized and three developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially fatal complication that can cause kidney failure. More than half of reported illnesses occurred in children ages five and younger, which the CDC says is the most common age range for developing HUS. No deaths have been reported, per Yahoo.

The epidemiological picture is unusually direct. According to The Healthy, all nine of the sickened people interviewed by public health officials reported eating Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese in the week before falling ill. Illnesses began between July 7 and August 26, 2026, but the CDC says the true number of cases is likely far higher than reported. The FDA says symptoms — severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting — can begin a few days after exposure or as many as nine days later.

The recall lands at an awkward cultural moment. The Healthy reports that a Circana survey found 1 in 10 people drink raw milk, and 42 percent of raw milk drinkers say they are not worried about the health risks, even though the FDA advises against it and cites studies showing raw milk can carry dangerous pathogens. Pasteurization kills those pathogens without reducing nutritional quality, the outlet notes — a direct challenge to the claim that raw milk is nutritionally superior. This outbreak, and its concentration among young children, gives that debate new urgency.

Because recalled cheeses have a long shelf life, the FDA and CDC urge consumers to check refrigerators and freezers — including cheese removed from its original packaging that can no longer be identified. Consumers should not eat or serve the products; the guidance is to discard them or return them to the store for a refund. The FDA also recommends cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces or containers that touched the cheese to prevent cross-contamination, and anyone who ate it and develops symptoms should contact a healthcare provider immediately.

The FDA says its investigation remains ongoing as officials work to determine the source of the contamination and whether any other products could be affected, and it will update the outbreak advisory as more information becomes available. Sierra Nevada Cheese Company can be reached at (530) 934-8662, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, per The Healthy. For raw-milk-curious readers, the outbreak is a concrete data point in a widening argument: the cheese was recalled in its entirety precisely because no single batch could be ruled safe.