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E. COLI OUTBREAKRAW MILK CHEESE

Graziers Raw Milk Cheese Recall 2026: E. coli, Sold Nationwide, 13 Sick

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company recalled all of its Graziers raw milk cheese. The cheese is linked to an E. coli O26 outbreak. CDC counts 13 sick people in 9 states. Eight were hospitalized. The cheese keeps a long time, so check your fridge and freezer.

By DeJuan Tartt & Ahnjonee Tartt · Published · Fact-checked against FDA and CDC records

A shopper's hand reaching for a wedge of cheese in a grocery store's cheese display case.
Cheese at a store counter. Not the recalled product.

Check your fridge and freezer for this one.

Sierra Nevada Graziers Raw Milk Cheese, any size. The 8oz Squares (Monterey Jack, Jalapeño Jack, Medium Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar), the 16 oz Medium Cheddar Brick, the 5lb loaves sold to food service customers and wholesalers, and the 40lb blocks. All of it is recalled. There are no lot codes to check. Don't eat it. Throw it away or return it for a refund.

On this page
13
people sick
9
states where they live
8
hospitalized
3
with HUS

The short version

  • Sierra Nevada Cheese Company of Willows, California, is recalling all Graziers Raw Milk Cheese on the market. Every size is included, and no lot codes are listed.
  • The cheese is linked to an E. coli O26:H11 outbreak. As of September 25, 2026, 13 people in 9 states are sick. Eight were hospitalized, and 3 developed HUS, a serious kidney problem. No one has died.
  • Over half of the sick people are children age 5 or younger.
  • Illnesses are linked to the Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar, but all Graziers raw milk cheese is recalled.
  • The cheese was sold nationwide, in stores and online. The recall started September 24, 2026.
  • The cheese has a long shelf life. CDC says to check refrigerators and freezers. FDA still lists the outbreak as ongoing.

What happened in the Graziers raw milk cheese recall

Graziers Raw Milk Cheese is made by Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, of Willows, California.

On September 24, 2026, FDA notified the company and recommended a recall. Sierra Nevada Cheese Company agreed and began recalling all Graziers raw milk cheeses that day. The company stopped production and shipping and contacted its direct customers.

The company's own announcement is dated September 28, 2026. FDA posted it on September 29.

The germ is E. coli O26:H11, as FDA names it. CDC calls the outbreak E. coli O26. Illnesses started from July 7 to August 26, 2026.

The sick people range in age from 1 to 58. The median age is 5, and over half are children age 5 or younger. CDC says the true number of sick people is likely much higher than reported.

FDA is still working to find the source of contamination. FDA is also checking whether other products are affected. FDA's outbreak table is dated October 28, 2026. It still lists the investigation as Active and the outbreak as Ongoing.

Where sick people live

The 13 sick people live in 9 states. California and Nevada have 3 each.

States on the list: CA, CO, GA, KY, MI, NV, OR, TN, UT.

California 3, Nevada 3, Colorado 1, Georgia 1, Kentucky 1, Michigan 1, Oregon 1, Tennessee 1, Utah 1.

Source: FDA and CDC, September 25, 2026.

Sold nationwide, in stores and online (FDA). The cheese was also exported to South Korea.

Timeline

  1. July 7, 2026
    First illness starts (CDC)
  2. August 26, 2026
    Last illness starts so far (FDA, CDC)
  3. September 24, 2026
    FDA recommends a recall; Sierra Nevada Cheese Company starts recalling all Graziers raw milk cheese (FDA)
  4. September 25, 2026
    CDC and FDA announce the outbreak, 13 sick in 9 states (FDA, CDC)
  5. September 28, 2026
    Sierra Nevada Cheese Company's recall announcement; FDA posts it September 29 (FDA)
  6. October 28, 2026
    FDA's outbreak table still lists the outbreak as Active and Ongoing (FDA)

What "linked to" means here

No recall class is listed. So here's what the link to Graziers raw milk cheese rests on.

Nine sick people were interviewed. All 9, or 100%, said they ate Graziers raw milk cheese. In the FoodNet Population Survey, 4.9% of people said they ate raw milk cheese.

CDC says the 100% is significantly higher than the 4.9%. CDC's conclusion: Graziers raw milk cheese may be contaminated with E. coli and making people sick.

Public health investigators used whole genome sequencing on the germs from sick people. Whole genome sequencing is a lab test that reads the germ's DNA. The test showed the germs are closely related genetically.

The link comes from the interviews and the tests on sick people's samples. The company says illnesses are linked to the Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar. The investigation hasn't been narrowed to a lot, so every Graziers raw milk cheese is recalled.

Recalled products

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company (recall started September 24, 2026)

All Graziers Raw Milk Cheese is recalled. Here are the 10 product lines as the company lists them. There are no lot codes or dates, so every package counts.

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company (recall started September 24, 2026)
ProductPackageUPC or item number
Monterey Jack8oz SquareUPC 6-87652-16400-9
Jalapeño Jack8oz SquareUPC 6-87652-16403-0
Medium Cheddar8oz SquareUPC 6-87652-16506-8
Sharp Cheddar8oz SquareUPC 6-87652-16507-5
Medium Cheddar16 oz BrickUPC 6-87652-16501-3
Monterey Jack loaves5lb LoafItem 6425
Jalapeño Jack loaves5lb LoafItem 6426
Medium Cheddar5lb LoafItem 6510
Sharp Cheddar5lb LoafItem 6511
Cheddar block40lb BlockItems 6515; 6516

The cheese went out nationwide through distributors, retailers and direct customers. No stores are named.

What to do if you have the recalled cheese

  1. Check your fridge and freezer. CDC says to look there because the cheese has a long shelf life.
  2. Don't eat, sell or serve it. Throw it away, or return it for a refund.
  3. Toss unlabeled cheese you can't identify. FDA says to throw away unpackaged cheese that can't be identified.
  4. Clean up. Clean and sanitize surfaces and containers that touched the cheese.
  5. Questions? Call Sierra Nevada Cheese Company at (530) 934-8662, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Did you already eat it? FDA says to contact a health care provider right away if you have symptoms.

E. coli and HUS: what to know

E. coli O26 is a germ that can make people sick. For E. coli in general, CDC lists diarrhea, which can be bloody or watery, and stomach cramps, which can be severe. Some people also have vomiting or a low fever.

FDA says symptoms can start a few days after exposure, or up to nine days. The company's notice says most people recover within a week.

Some people get sicker. The company's notice names children under 5, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. They can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.

The company's notice says HUS breaks down red blood cells and lowers the platelet count.

CDC calls HUS a medical emergency. HUS can lead to kidney failure, permanent health problems and even death.

CDC lists these HUS warning signs:

  • Little or no urination
  • Losing pink color in the cheeks and lower eyelids
  • Unexplained bruising or tiny red spots
  • Blood in urine
  • Feeling very tired or irritable
  • Decreased awareness (alertness)

CDC says to call a doctor for any of these:

  • Diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than 2 days
  • Bloody stool or urine
  • A fever higher than 102°F
  • Signs of dehydration
  • Signs of HUS

Also linked to E. coli: Great Value frozen berries and sprouting seeds.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sierra Nevada Cheese Company Recalls Graziers Raw Milk Cheese Because of Possible Health Risk. Company announcement September 28, 2026; FDA publish date September 29, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sierra-nevada-cheese-company-recalls-graziers-raw-milk-cheese-because-possible-health-risk
  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O26:H11: Raw Milk Cheese (September 2026). Content current as of October 9, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o26h11-raw-milk-cheese-september-2026
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks. Page dated October 28, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Investigation Update: E. coli Outbreak, September 2026. September 25, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/raw-milk-cheese-09-26/investigation.html
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where People Got Sick: E. coli Outbreak, September 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/raw-milk-cheese-09-26/locations.html
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of E. coli Infection. Page reviewed May 14, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/signs-symptoms/index.html

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Recall information comes from the FDA and CDC pages listed under Sources. This page is for information only and is not medical advice.