California-based Raw Farm issued a voluntary recall “under protest” for certain batches of cheeses due to food illness risk posed by E. coli bacteria, the company said in an April 2 announcement published by the Food and Drug Administration.
The recall is applicable to 8 oz., 80 oz., and 16 oz. of Lightly Salted Cheddar Block with batch codes 20251027-2, 20251015-4, and 20251027-4, respectively. In addition, 16 oz. and 8 oz. of Jalapeno Cheddar Block with batch codes 20251128-1J and 20251128-2J are being withdrawn.
Other recalled products were 80 oz. Bag of Original Cheddar Shred with batch code 20260205 and 8 oz. Lightly Salted Cheddar Shred with batch code 20260212.
The items have expiration dates ranging from May 6 to Sept. 24 and were sold to retailers nationwide.
Raw Farm clarified that the recall is limited only to cheddar cheese sold under the brand and that no other products are affected. The company also pushed back against FDA claims that the products are contaminated with E. coli.
“No pathogens have been found in FDA samples collected directly or samples collected by state Health Department officials,” the announcement said. “RAW FARM continues to contest the epidemiological links provided by the FDA.”
“This Voluntary Recall is being performed under protest,” the company said.
“RAW FARM proudly makes truly raw cheddar cheese from milk that is not pasteurized or thermalized” in full compliance with rules regarding cheese and cheese products elaborated in the Code of Federal Regulations, it added.
Raw Farm asked people who have the recalled items in their possession not to consume them. Instead, the company recommended that the products be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.
On March 15, the FDA announced that it was investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other state and local partners.
At the time, officials interviewed three ill people, who reported consuming Raw Farm brand cheese.
“Epidemiologic evidence indicates that RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese products made by RAW FARM, LLC are the likely source of this outbreak,” the FDA said.
“FDA has recommended that RAW FARM, LLC voluntarily remove their raw cheese products from the market, and the firm has declined.”
In a March 16 X post, Raw Farm had said that it 100 percent disagreed with the allegations made by the FDA and the CDC.
All products from the company have been confirmed to be negative for harmful bacteria, including E. coli O157:H7, Raw Farm said, adding that the FDA has not found any products testing positive for the pathogen in the marketplace.
“Inaccurate statements made by the FDA and CDC linking our brand to an outbreak is egregious and extreme harassment towards our brand,” the company said.
Safety Precautions, Testing
In a March 16 video post on X, Aaron McAfee, president of Raw Farm, said that the company had initially declined a voluntary recall for the first time in its history because it disagreed with the FDA’s allegations.
“In the past, we’ve had recalls. We’ve owned it, whether we agreed or disagreed. We’ve always learned something, and we’re proud of it. This is different. Did you know that Raw Farm tests every single batch of cheese that we make before we release it to you, to the consumer, to be sold? Did you know that we test all of our melt going into the cheese vat? Did you know we do environmental swabs that we test?” McAfee said.
“We test more than anyone because we understand that our milk is truly raw. It’s not thermalized. It has all the wonderful beneficial bacteria that you, our consumer, demands. And we understand the risks that are associated with that, which is why we single-source our milk from our own dairies. We test all of our cows weekly. We test all of our milk going into cheese vat. We test the cheese coming out.”
McAfee said that neither the company nor its retail partners had received any reports of illnesses.
Regarding testing of products for E. coli, the Raw Farm president said in a March 26 video posted on X: “100 percent of the results are negative. No positives at retail, from our sampling, or the government sampling.”
In a March 30 update, the FDA said it was conducting an on-site inspection at Raw Farm and collecting samples. The agency admitted that it was not aware of any positive E. coli test results for Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese products at the time.
All sizes and varieties of block and shredded Raw Farm-brand Raw Cheddar Cheeses purchased on or after Jan. 4 are affected, the FDA said.
According to a March 30 update from the CDC, there have been a total of nine illnesses across three states in the outbreak. Three people have been hospitalized, but no deaths were reported. However, one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which causes serious kidney problems.
“Do not eat, sell, or serve these cheeses while the investigation continues,” the CDC said. “Wash items and surfaces that may have touched these cheeses using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.”
“Check your refrigerator and freezer for the Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese (blocks or shredded) and throw it away.”
The CDC advised people to contact a health care provider in case they or someone they know exhibits the following symptoms after consuming the recalled products: diarrhea and fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, diarrhea for over three days without any improvement, bloody diarrhea, signs of dehydration, and too much vomiting that the person is unable to keep liquids down.
The Epoch Times reached out to the FDA and CDC for comment regarding Raw Farm’s allegations, but did not receive a response by publication time.