FDA RECALL: A nationwide recall is underway for all Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheeses, after federal health officials linked the products to a multistate outbreak of E. coli O26:H11.
While no illnesses have been reported in North Carolina or South Carolina, the FDA confirms the cheeses were distributed nationally, meaning shoppers in both states may have purchased them.
The recall covers every lot and every variety of the company’s raw milk cheeses, including Monterey Jack, Jalapeño Jack, Medium Cheddar, and Sharp Cheddar. Products were sold in 8‑ounce squares, 16‑ounce bricks, 5‑pound loaves, and 40‑pound wholesale blocks.
Federal investigators say 13 people across nine states have been infected with the same strain of E. coli, including eight hospitalizations and three cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication that can lead to kidney failure. All nine patients interviewed reported eating Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese before becoming sick.
The FDA warns that the cheeses have a long shelf life, and consumers may still have them in refrigerators or freezers. Anyone who purchased Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese is urged to stop using it immediately, throw it away, and sanitize any surfaces the product may have touched.
Symptoms of E. coli infection include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Health officials say anyone experiencing these symptoms after eating the recalled cheese should seek medical care.
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