Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O26:H11: Raw Milk Cheese (September 2026)
Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses.
Product
Recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses: medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack, and Monterey jack sold at retail in 8-oz or 16-oz packages and available to food service customers or wholesalers in 5-lb loaves.
Symptoms of E. coli
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.
The severity or presence of certain symptoms may depend on the type of pathogenic E. coli causing the infection. Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to life-threatening conditions, such as a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems.
Stores affected
Sold at retailers nationwide and online.
Status
Ongoing
Recommendations
- Do not eat, serve, or sell recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses (medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack, or Monterey jack varieties). Consumers who purchased recalled cheese may return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
- This product has a long shelf life. Check your refrigerators and freezers for the recalled raw milk cheeses and throw them away. If you refrigerated or froze cheese without the original packaging and can’t tell if it’s part of the recall, throw it away.
- Consumers, restaurants, retailers, and foodservice customers who purchased or received recalled raw milk 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 received recalled product and repackaged it for individual sale should not sell it and remove the product from the market.
- Consult your health care provider immediately if you ate recalled this brand of cheese and have any symptoms of an E. coli infection.
Current Update
September 25, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O26:H11 infections linked to Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
State and local public health officials are interviewing ill people or their caregivers about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 9 people interviewed, all 9 (100%) in this outbreak reported consuming Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese.
On September 24, 2026, FDA contacted the firm to notify them about this outbreak and recommend they conduct a recall. Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, LCC is working with the FDA and that same day agreed to and initiated a recall of all Graziers Raw Milk Cheeses. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled cheeses. Consumers who purchased recalled cheese may return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
FDA’s investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and if there are any other products potentially affected. This advisory will be updated once additional information becomes available.
Case Count Map Provided by CDC
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 13
Hospitalizations: 8
HUS: 3
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: August 26, 2026
States with Cases: CA, CO, GA, KY, MI, NV, OR, TN, UT
Product Distribution: Nationwide
Product Images
Who to Contact?
Consumers who have symptoms should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.
To report a complaint or adverse event (illness or serious allergic reaction), you can
- Call an FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator if you wish to speak directly to a person about your problem.
- Complete an electronic Voluntary MedWatch form online.
- Complete a paper Voluntary MedWatch form that can be mailed to FDA.
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