Raw Cheddar Cheese Recall Flags Non-O157 E coli

Family Farmstead Dairy, LLC, of Worcester, New York, is recalling a single lot of its Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese over potential contamination with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC).¹ Testing identified two non-O157 serotypes, E coli O26:H11 and O45:H2. No illnesses have been reported to date.¹

The company issued a corrected release revising both the serotype and the distribution pattern, after the initial version cited E coli O157:H7.¹ Federal rules permit interstate sale of raw milk cheese only after aging for at least 60 days at temperatures no lower than 35 °F.² Raw cheddar drew similar scrutiny in early 2024, when the CDC investigated a multistate E coli outbreak linked to Raw Farm brand raw cheddar and the company issued a voluntary recall.³

The recalled product carries lot code and best-by date 7/22/27.¹ Family Farmstead distributed the cheese to grocers in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts.¹ The announcement cautions downstream distributors may have shipped the product to additional states, and no other Family Farmstead products are affected.¹

The contamination surfaced through a Maryland sample collected under the FDA Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) program.¹ Analysis isolated two STEC strains from two samples of Family Farmstead A2 Raw Cheddar in 8-oz packages bearing the same 7/22/27 code.¹ Because detection came through product surveillance sampling rather than an illness cluster, the recall began ahead of any reported cases.¹

Consumers should not eat the product and should discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.¹ The company has received no reports of illness associated with the recalled lot.¹ Family Farmstead stated it is working to identify the cause of the contamination and to implement corrective actions.¹

Clinical Presentation, HUS Risk, and Laboratory Diagnosis of Non-O157 STEC Infection

O26 and O45 rank among the six non-O157 serogroups most commonly associated with STEC illness in the United States, along with O103, O111, O121, and O145.⁴ Non-O157 strains can cause illness resembling O157 infection.⁴ According to the company announcement, infection with the detected serotypes typically produces diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools.¹

Most healthy adults recover within a week, but some patients develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure most likely in young children and older adults.¹ HUS can lead to serious kidney damage and death.¹ Clinicians should monitor patients with confirmed STEC infection for signs of HUS.⁴

Antibiotics are generally not recommended for STEC infection, since some studies associate antimicrobial use with HUS development and a treatment benefit has not been clearly demonstrated.⁴ Management therefore centers on supportive care and close observation for renal and hematologic complications.⁴

Diagnosis of non-O157 STEC requires more than routine stool culture. Stool specimens from all patients with symptoms consistent with acute bacterial enteritis should be tested for Shiga toxin, with STEC culture attempted.⁴ Testing may use culture or a culture-independent diagnostic test detecting Shiga toxin 1 and/or 2 or its genes.⁴

The Family Farmstead recall represents the latest STEC detection in raw milk cheese following the 2024 Raw Farm outbreak.³ No CDC outbreak investigation has been announced in connection with the recalled lot, and the company continues to report no associated illnesses.¹

References

1. Family Farmstead Dairy announces recall of raw mild cheddar cheese due to potential E coli O26:H11 and O45:H2 contamination. News release. Family Farmstead Dairy, LLC; October 15, 2026. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/family-farmstead-dairy-announces-recall-raw-mild-cheddar-cheese-due-potential-e-coli-o26h11-and

2. Raw cheddar cheese recall expands across seven US states. eDairy News. October 19, 2026. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://en.edairynews.com/raw-cheddar-cheese-recall-expands-across-seven-us-states

3. The CDC investigates a multistate E coli outbreak linked to raw cheddar cheese. NPR. February 17, 2024. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2024/02/17/1232270919/e-coli-raw-farm-cheddar-cheese-recall

4. Shiga toxin-producing E coli (STEC) infection: information for health professionals. California Department of Public Health. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/STEC-HealthProfessionals.aspx