Raw milk cheese recall after E. coli outbreak spreads across nine states

Investigations have connected a series of E. coli infections to raw milk cheeses made by Sierra Nevada Graziers in Willows, California. The FDA recalled four cheese types—medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack and Monterey jack—available in 8-oz, 16-oz and 5-lb formats for retail and food-service customers. Health authorities report eight hospitalizations and three instances of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can impair kidney function.

Cases have been identified in nine states, including California and Nevada, with the majority of patients being children five years old or younger. Consumers are urged to discard any recalled cheese and clean surfaces that may have contacted the product with hot, soapy water or a dishwasher. This follows a prior raw-milk cheese outbreak earlier in the year that also led to a recall.