Sierra Nevada Graziers Raw Milk Cheeses Recalled as E. Coli Outbreak Sickens 13 in Nine States

Federal health officials say Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses should not be eaten, sold or served, because the cheeses are linked to a multistate outbreak of E. coli O26:H11 infections. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating, and the investigation is ongoing. According to the CDC, 13 people have become ill and eight have been hospitalized. Three of the sick people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening form of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

What was recalled

The recalled products are Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses in medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack and Monterey jack varieties. At retail they were sold in 8-ounce or 16-ounce packages, and food service customers and wholesalers could buy them in 5-pound loaves. The cheeses were sold at retailers nationwide and online, and they were also distributed to the Republic of Korea.

The recall covers all Graziers raw milk cheese currently in the market, because investigators have not narrowed the problem to a specific lot, date code or production date. "A specific lot, production date, or source of contamination has not been identified at this time," the Sierra Nevada Cheese Company said in its announcement.

How investigators linked the cheese

Health officials interviewed nine of the sick people about foods eaten in the week before they became ill. All nine reported eating Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese. "Illnesses have been epidemiologically associated with consumption of Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar," the company said.

The CDC said more than half of the sick people are children aged 5 years or younger, a group at higher risk of severe illness from this type of E. coli. Cases were reported in nine states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah. The last recorded illness in the outbreak began on August 26, 2026.

A recall that started on September 24

On September 24, 2026, the FDA contacted Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, told it about the outbreak and recommended a recall. The company agreed the same day and initiated a recall of all Graziers raw milk cheeses. It immediately stopped production and shipment and notified its direct customers. The FDA and CDC posted the outbreak investigation on September 25, 2026, and the case counts on those pages were unchanged when checked again on November 3.

The FDA Enforcement Report entry, using October data, covers one product only: 40-pound blocks of Graziers raw milk sharp cheddar totaling 1,373 pounds, with thirteen lot codes listed. The company recall notice posted on fda.gov on September 29 lists ten Graziers raw milk products and names no lot codes.

The warning circulated again on November 2

On November 2, 2026, Mesa County Public Health in Colorado issued a food safety alert on the recall. The county said the cheeses are potentially contaminated with E. coli, were distributed to retailers nationwide and online, may have been sold in Mesa County, and are tied to a multistate outbreak with at least 13 people reported sick. CSPI also lists the Graziers cheeses in its current recall roundup, with the same counts: 13 ill in nine states, eight hospitalized and three with hemolytic uremic syndrome.

The FDA advice to consumers is direct: "Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses." Buyers can return the recalled cheeses to the place of purchase for a refund.