Key points
CDC, FDA, and public health officials in three states are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections linked to raw cheese and raw milk sold by Raw Farm, LLC.
- Two additional illnesses have been reported from California. One of these illnesses occurred in 2025.
- This outbreak has illnesses dating back to 2025. Sick people in 2026 reported eating Raw Farm brand raw cheese and two sick people in 2025 reported drinking Raw Farm brand raw milk.
- Over half of the illnesses continue to be in children under 5.
Latest Update: March 25, 2026
CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and public health and regulatory officials in three states are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections.
Epidemiologic data show that Raw Farm brand raw cheese and raw milk may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and may be making people sick.
Epidemiologic Data
Illnesses
Since the last update on March 15, 2026, 2 additional illnesses have been reported from California. A total of 9 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from 3 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from September 1, 2025, to February 20, 2026. Of 8 people with information available, 3 have been hospitalized and 1 person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that 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 this outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. 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 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Demographics
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak ("n" is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
Age
(n=9)
Range from 1 to 28 years
Median age of 2
Over half are under 5
Sex
(n=9)
33% female
67% male
Race
(n=6)
83% White
17% African American/Black
Ethnicity
(n=8)
87% non-Hispanic
13% Hispanic
Foods consumed
State and local public health officials are interviewing people or their caregivers about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 8 people interviewed, all 8 (100%) in this outbreak reported consuming or being served unpasteurized milk or cheese. This percentage was significantly higher than the 6.4% of respondents who reported eating any raw or unpasteurized milk or cheese in the FoodNet Population Survey, a survey that helps estimate how often people eat various foods linked to diarrheal illness. This difference suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from eating raw dairy products.
Of the 8 people interviewed, 7 had brand information available. One person drank raw milk but didn't know the brand. Of the 7 people interviewed who knew a brand, 7 (100%) reported Raw Farm brand dairy products. In 2026, 5 people reported consuming or being served Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese. In 2025, 2 sick people reported consuming Raw Farm brand raw milk.
Previous updates
CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and public health and regulatory officials in several states are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections.
Epidemiologic data show that Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and may be making people sick.
Epidemiologic data
As of March 13, 2026, 7 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from 3 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from September 1, 2025 to February 13, 2026. Of 7 people with information available, 2 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. 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 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Demographics
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak ("n" is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
Age
(n=7)
Range from 1 to 28 years
Median age of 3
Sex
(n=7)
29% female
71% male
Race
(n=4)
75% white
25% African American/Black
Ethnicity
(n=7)
86% non-Hispanic
14% Hispanic
Products consumed
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 3 people interviewed, all 3 (100%) reported eating Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese.
Laboratory and traceback data
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS).
WGS showed that bacteria from sick people's samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.
Public health actions
Consider not eating affected raw cheddar cheese produced by Raw Farm, LLC, while this investigation is ongoing.