9 Ill in E. coli Outbreak Tied to Raw Farm Dairy

Nine people across the United States, including several young children, have fallen ill in an expanding outbreak of E. coli infections linked to raw milk and cheddar cheese produced by Raw Farm, a Fresno, California-based company, according to federal health officials.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced two additional cases Thursday, bringing the total to nine. Seven illnesses occurred in California, with one each in Florida and Texas. Patients became sick between September 2025 and mid-February 2026. Over half of those affected are children younger than 5 years old. Three people have been hospitalized, and one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication that can lead to kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

Of the seven patients interviewed by investigators, all reported consuming Raw Farm-branded products. Five said they ate the company's raw cheddar cheese, either in block or shredded form, while two reported drinking its raw milk. Genetic sequencing by the Food and Drug Administration confirmed that the E. coli strains, specifically O157:H7, isolated from the patients are closely related, pointing to a common source of contamination.