WYOMING — The Teton County Health Department announced on Tuesday, Feb. 20 that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multi-state outbreak of E. coli infections associated with raw cheddar cheese.
According to health officials, raw cheddar cheese made by Raw Farm, LLC has been linked to at least 10 people across four states — California, Colorado, Texas and Utah — becoming ill from E. coli. Illnesses started on dates ranging from Oct. 18, 2023, to Jan. 29, 2024. Raw Farm products are sold at retailers nationwide. The CDC concluded from State and local public health surveys that 75% of those sick, ate the Raw Farm brand of cheddar cheese.
As of February 16, the CDC reported that at least four people have been hospitalized and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.
“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses,” the CDC reported. “This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”
The FDA states on its website that symptoms of E. Coli can begin up to nine days after consuming contaminated food or up to nine days later. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and/or vomiting.
The FDA recommends:
- Do not eat, sell or serve Raw Farm-brand Raw Cheddar cheese products.
- Check the refrigerators and freezers for RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar cheese (blocks or shredded) and throw them away. If a cheese product can not be identified, throw it away.
- Consumers, restaurants and retailers that purchased or received Raw Farm-brand Raw Cheddar 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 purchased this product and repackaged it for individual sale should remove the product from the market.
Due to the range in severity of illness, people should consult their health care provider if they suspect that they have developed symptoms that resemble an E. coli infection.
