Sunday, September 27, 2026Independent, original journalismSome links are advertising or affiliate links. How we make money
Independent reviews, guides and reporting.
★0saved articles
Food
News
E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Sierra Nevada Graziers Raw Milk Cheese Sickens 13 in Nine States
Federal investigators say all nine interviewed patients reported eating the cheese before falling ill; three children developed a serious kidney complication.
By THRYV Life Desk·Published September 27, 2026·Updated September 27, 2026·4 min read
Food · Illustration commissioned for THRYV. Photography is replaced with original imagery as each story is produced.
The takeaway
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company has recalled all Graziers raw milk cheddar, jalapeño jack, and Monterey jack after CDC and FDA investigators linked it to a nine-state E. coli O26 outbreak that has sickened 13 people, hospitalized eight, and caused three cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome, mostly in young children. Consumers should discard the cheese or return it for a refund.
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company has voluntarily recalled all of its Graziers raw milk cheese after the CDC and FDA linked the product to an E. coli O26:H11 outbreak spanning nine states. As of the latest federal update, 13 people have gotten sick, eight have been hospitalized, and three have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney complication — with more than half of the patients children age 5 or younger.
What's being recalled
The recall covers Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese sold in medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack, and Monterey jack varieties, packaged in 8-ounce and 16-ounce retail sizes as well as 5-pound wholesale loaves. The FDA says all lots currently in the market are included.
Illnesses reported in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah
13 confirmed illnesses, 8 hospitalizations, 3 cases of HUS, 0 deaths as of the latest update
FDA contacted the company on September 24; the agency issued a public update September 25
Why raw milk cheese carries extra risk
Unlike most commercial cheese, raw milk products skip pasteurization, the heat process that kills bacteria and viruses in milk before it's made into cheese. The FDA noted that all nine people interviewed so far in the investigation reported eating Sierra Nevada Graziers cheese before getting sick, and cautioned that "raw milk products are not pasteurized — a process that kills bacteria and viruses."
Raw milk products are not pasteurized — a process that kills bacteria and viruses.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
What to do if you bought this cheese
Do not eat it, even if some has already been consumed without symptoms. Throw it away or return it to the store where you bought it for a refund, and wash any surfaces, containers, or utensils that touched it with hot, soapy water. Anyone who developed diarrhea, fever, or stomach cramps after eating the cheese should contact a healthcare provider.
Where the investigation stands
The CDC and FDA say the investigation is ongoing and the true number of illnesses is likely higher than confirmed lab-tested cases, since many people recover without being tested. Sierra Nevada Cheese Company has not publicly detailed the source of the contamination.
Sources
This article is original writing by THRYV. We link to primary reporting and official documents rather than reproducing them.
Written and edited in-house by the THRYV Life Desk. We do not republish or reword agency copy, and we do not invent quotes, statistics, testimonials or ratings. Where figures move frequently, we point you to the primary release rather than printing a number that will be out of date. Advertising and affiliate partnerships have no influence on our reporting — see our editorial standards, fact-checking policy and affiliate disclosure. Spotted an error? Write to newsroom@thryv-news.com.
General information only. Not personalised financial, medical or legal advice.
A North Carolina distributor shipped beef, pork and goat products nationwide bearing a bogus federal inspection mark, triggering the USDA's most serious recall class.
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream is recalling five flavors of Outshine Fruit Bars after finding some products may contain glass; no illnesses or injuries have been reported.
Marketing language around kitchen knives is dense with vague superlatives. A short list of measurable specifications tells you far more than the branding.
