Graziers Raw Milk Cheese Recalled Nationwide After E. coli Illnesses Reported
A nationwide recall is underway for Graziers raw milk cheese after federal and state health officials investigated a multistate E. coli outbreak linked to the products.
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company of Willows, California, has voluntarily recalled all Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese currently in distribution nationwide. The recall includes several cheese varieties and package sizes, meaning shoppers should check refrigerators and freezers before serving or using any Graziers cheese they may have at home.
The recalled products include Medium Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar, Jalapeño Jack, and Monterey Jack varieties. They were sold in 8-ounce and 16-ounce retail packages, as well as 5-pound food-service or wholesale loaves.
The FDA, CDC, and state health officials are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O26:H11 connected to the recalled products. Federal updates report that 13 people in nine states have become ill: California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah.
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Why shoppers should check their cheese supply
The recall applies nationwide, not only to states where illnesses have been reported. Federal notices indicate the products were distributed across the country, and specific retailers, restaurants, or local stores have not been identified.
That means shoppers should not assume they are unaffected simply because no illnesses have been reported in their area. The safest way to determine whether a household product is involved is to check the brand, variety, and package information.
The FDA says all nine interviewed patients reported eating Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese before becoming sick. Investigators have specifically associated illnesses with Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar, but the company’s recall covers all Graziers raw milk cheese because officials have not identified a specific lot, production date, or contamination source.
More than half of the reported illnesses involve children age 5 and younger.
Which Graziers cheeses are included
Consumers should look for these recalled Graziers products:
Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar
This variety has been specifically associated with illnesses during the investigation. It is included in the broader recall covering all Graziers raw milk cheese currently in distribution.
Graziers Raw Milk Sharp Cheddar
The Sharp Cheddar variety is also part of the recall and should not be eaten, sold, or served.
Graziers Raw Milk Jalapeño Jack
This variety is included among the recalled cheeses affected by the company’s nationwide action.
Graziers Raw Milk Monterey Jack
Monterey Jack products from the Graziers raw milk cheese line are also covered by the recall.
The recalled cheeses may be found in both consumer packages and larger food-service formats. Because the products have a long shelf life, shoppers should check stored cheese in both refrigerators and freezers.
What consumers should do next?
Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve the recalled cheese. Any affected products should be returned to the retailer where they were purchased for a refund or thrown away.
Food-service businesses and other organizations that may have received the recalled cheese should also check their supplies and remove any affected products from use.
This recall was initiated voluntarily by Sierra Nevada Cheese Company after the FDA recommended a nationwide recall while the investigation continues. It is not a recall of all cheese products or all raw milk products. The action applies specifically to the Graziers brand raw milk cheese included in the recall.
What officials are still investigating
Federal investigators are continuing to look into the outbreak and have not identified a specific production lot, date, or contamination source for the recalled products.
The investigation remains focused on the connection between the illnesses and Graziers raw milk cheese. While the recalled products were distributed nationwide, confirmed illnesses so far have been reported in the nine states identified by health officials.
For shoppers, the main step is simple: check any Graziers raw milk cheese at home, including packages stored away for later use. If the product matches the recalled brand and varieties, do not serve it.
