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Raw‑Milk Graziers Cheese Recalled After Multistate E. coli Outbreak

Federal and local investigators are tracing the source after health officials linked Graziers cheese to 13 infections that included hospitalizations and kidney‑damaging HUS.

Overview

  • Sierra Nevada Cheese Company agreed to recall all Graziers raw‑milk cheeses on Sept. 24 after the FDA and CDC linked the brand to a multistate outbreak that has sickened 13 people.
  • Health agencies say eight people were hospitalized and three developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication that can cause kidney failure, and over half of those infected are age five or younger.
  • All interviewed patients reported eating Graziers raw‑milk cheese in the week before getting sick, and authorities are conducting case interviews, product testing and trace‑back to locate the contamination source.
  • The recall covers Graziers grass‑fed raw‑milk varieties including medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack and Monterey jack sold in 8‑ounce, 16‑ounce and 5‑pound packages; consumers should not eat the product and should return or discard it and sanitize surfaces it touched.
  • Raw milk cheeses are made from unpasteurized milk and can carry bacteria such as E. coli; U.S. rules ban interstate sales of raw milk for drinking but state laws vary, which affects how these products reach consumers.