The CDC and FDA announced on September 25, 2026, that a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26:H11 infections has been linked to Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese made by Sierra Nevada Cheese Company of Willows, California. Thirteen people are sick: three each in California and Nevada, and one each in Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah. Eight have been hospitalized, three have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, and no one has died. More than half of the sick are children age 5 or younger. All four Graziers raw milk cheeses — medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack and Monterey jack — were recalled on September 24. They were sold nationwide in stores and online, and they have a long shelf life, so check your refrigerator and freezer.
The outbreak by the numbers
- 13 confirmed illnesses in nine states as of CDC’s September 25 update: California (3), Nevada (3), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1) and Utah (1).
- 8 hospitalized (62 percent of those with information available), 3 with HUS, 0 deaths.
- Ages 1 to 58, median age 5. More than half are age 5 or younger.
- Illnesses began between July 7 and August 26, 2026 — six in July and seven in August.
- Two of California’s three cases are San Diego County children under 5, according to county health officials.
CDC says the true number of sick people is likely much higher than 13, because many people are never tested and it usually takes three to four weeks to link a sick person to an outbreak. The states listed are where sick people live, not necessarily where the cheese was bought.
How investigators linked the cheese
All nine sick people interviewed so far reported eating Graziers raw milk cheese in the week before they got sick. In CDC’s FoodNet Population Survey, only 4.9 percent of people report eating raw milk cheese in a given week, and whole genome sequencing shows the bacteria from the sick people are closely related, meaning they share a common source. FDA notified Sierra Nevada Cheese Company on September 24 and recommended a recall; the company agreed the same day. In a statement posted to social media, the company said the illnesses have been associated with its medium cheddar but that it is recalling every Graziers raw milk cheese on the market because the investigation has not narrowed to a lot or date code. Neither agency has reported a product test result yet, and FDA says its investigation is ongoing.
What is recalled and what to do
The recall covers all Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses — medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack and Monterey jack — in 8-ounce and 16-ounce retail packages and 5-pound food service loaves. There are no lot codes to check: if it is Graziers raw milk cheese, it is recalled. The labels say, “Aged at least 60 days” (“Aged over 120 days” on the sharp cheddar), which is the legal minimum for raw milk cheese, not a safety guarantee.
- Throw the cheese away or return it for a refund. If you froze raw milk cheese without its packaging and cannot identify it, throw it away.
- The 5-pound loaves were cut and re-wrapped under store labels, and FDA has told those retailers not to sell it. If you bought cut raw milk cheddar or jack from a deli or cheese counter this summer and cannot confirm where it came from, treat it as recalled.
- Wash and sanitize cutting boards, knives, containers and refrigerator shelves the cheese touched.
Symptoms of E. coli O26 and when to get help
Symptoms usually begin three to four days after eating contaminated food, and FDA says they can take up to nine days: severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that is often bloody, and vomiting. Call a doctor for bloody diarrhea, a fever above 102°F, diarrhea lasting more than two days, vomiting that keeps you from holding down liquids, or signs of dehydration. In young children watch for the signs of HUS — urinating less often, unusual tiredness, and losing the pink color in the cheeks and inside the lower eyelids — and go to the emergency room. Tell the doctor you may have eaten recalled raw milk cheese and ask for a stool culture; CDC does not recommend antibiotics for suspected Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections. If the culture is positive, ask that the isolate be preserved, because sequencing it is what connects an illness to this outbreak.
“Aged 60 days” is the legal minimum, not a kill step
Federal rules for cheddar (21 CFR 133.113) and Monterey jack (21 CFR 133.153) allow raw milk if the cheese is aged at least 60 days at 35°F or above — a 1949 rule built on the theory that acid, salt and time would do what pasteurization does. FDA tested 1,606 aged raw milk cheeses beginning in 2014 because, in its own words, evidence indicated that 60 days of aging may not eliminate or adequately reduce disease-causing bacteria, and it found Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in the samples. The record since then, all in cheese that met the rule: Raw Farm raw cheddar, February 2024 (11 sick, 2 with HUS); Twin Sisters Creamery, October 2025 (10 sick, including E. coli O26 — Marler Clark represents a claimant in that outbreak); Raw Farm again, March 2026 (9 sick, 1 with HUS, over half children under 5); and now Graziers. Four outbreaks in thirty-one months: 43 sick, 17 hospitalized, six with HUS. Sierra Nevada Cheese Company itself recalled a raw goat milk cheddar in August 2025 after state testing found Listeria monocytogenes. Bill Marler has been working on a citizen petition asking FDA to require a warning statement on cheese made from unpasteurized milk, as unpasteurized juice has carried since 1998, and to finish the reevaluation of the 60-day rule it began in 2013.
Three questions about this outbreak
Does cooking or freezing the cheese make it safe?
No. Freezing does not kill E. coli, and FDA’s advice is to throw the cheese away, not cook it: the bacteria spread to hands, cutting boards and other foods before the cheese ever reaches a pan.
Can adults get HUS, or only children?
Adults can develop HUS; children under 5 and older adults are at the highest risk. The sick people in this outbreak range from 1 to 58, and anyone with bloody diarrhea after eating the cheese should see a doctor.
I ate the cheese weeks ago and feel fine. Am I in the clear?
Symptoms show up within nine days. If you ate it more than nine days ago and never got sick, that cheese did not infect you; if any is left, throw it away.
E. coli
E. coli O157:H7 is the pathogen that built this firm. In its worst form it produces a Shiga toxin that shuts down the kidneys—hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)—and its victims are too often children. Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading firm for E. coli and HUS cases. Our E. coli lawyers have stood beside thousands of families in the only U.S. law practice devoted exclusively to foodborne illness, which has recovered more than $850 million for victims and families nationwide. We have traced E. coli to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and much more, and we have brought cases against Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s. Among those we have been honored to represent are Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith, and Linda Rivera. Our advocacy has reached beyond the courtroom as well: we helped push the federal government to declare E. coli O157:H7—and later six additional Shiga toxin–producing strains—adulterants in ground beef, and we have funded independent research into the pathogen to push the science forward.
If you or a family member developed an E. coli infection or HUS after eating contaminated food and you want to understand your legal options, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation at 1-800-884-9840.
FAQ
What is E. coli?
E. coli O157:H7 is a Shiga toxin–producing strain of Escherichia coli that causes severe, sometimes life-threatening food poisoning. Most people develop painful stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea three to four days after exposure, and about 5 to 10 percent of victims—often young children—go on to develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of acute kidney failure.
What foods cause E. coli outbreaks?
Ground beef, raw milk, leafy greens such as romaine and spinach, sprouts, unpasteurized juice, and raw flour have all been linked to E. coli O157:H7. Any food contaminated with even a trace of cattle feces can carry it.
What is HUS, and is it permanent?
Hemolytic uremic syndrome is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in young children. Many children recover, but some are left with lasting kidney damage, high blood pressure, or neurological injury and need lifelong monitoring.
Can I sue if I got E. coli from food?
If a contaminated food caused your infection, you may have a product-liability claim against the manufacturer, grower, or restaurant. The key questions are what you ate and whether your illness is genetically linked to a known outbreak strain.
How long do I have to file an E. coli lawsuit?
Filing deadlines (statutes of limitation) vary by state and by the type of injury, and they can run quickly. A free case evaluation is the fastest way to learn where you stand.
Additional Resources:
- About E. coli — a complete online resource on the symptoms and risks of E. coli infection
- About HUS — a complete online resource on hemolytic uremic syndrome and acute kidney failure
- Marler Clark E. coli Lawsuits and Litigation
- A downloadable Family Health Guide
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