Raw Farm Issues Voluntary Recall of Raw Cheddar Cheese Products Under Protest
Raw Farm, LLC, the Fresno, California-based raw dairy producer at the center of a federal E. coli investigation, announced a voluntary recall of seven raw cheddar cheese products on April 2, 2026, effective as of 12:00 PM Pacific time. The recall covers specific batches produced prior to dates listed in the company’s announcement and was issued at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — though Raw Farm has made clear it is proceeding under protest and continues to dispute the evidentiary basis for the action.
The company stated that no pathogens have been detected in any Raw Farm-brand cheese products, and that samples collected directly by the FDA and state health department officials have likewise returned negative results.
The Products Covered
The voluntary recall applies to the following items and any batches produced prior to the listed dates:
| Item | Description | Batch | Expiration | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1050 | 8 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Block | 20251027-2 | 8/23/2026 | 835204001177 |
| 1060 | 80 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Block | 20251015-4 | 8/11/2026 | 835204001160 |
| 1075 | 16 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Block | 20251027-4 | 8/23/2026 | 835204000156 |
| 1076 | 80 oz Bag of Original Cheddar Shred | 20260205 | 5/6/2026 | 835204000194 |
| 1078 | 16 oz Jalapeno Cheddar Block | 20251128-1J | 9/24/2026 | 835204000354 |
| 1080 | 8 oz Lightly Salted Cheddar Shred | 20260212 | 5/13/2026 | 835204001184 |
| 1090 | 8 oz Jalapeno Cheddar Block | 20251128-2J | 9/24/2026 | 835204000330 |
Raw Farm noted that the FDA issued its advisory without specifying batch numbers or expiration dates, leaving the company to define the scope of the recall itself. The company states it is compliant with C.F.R. section 133.113, the federal standard of identity for raw-milk cheddar cheese.
A Recall Issued Under Protest
Raw Farm’s announcement is explicit that it does not view this action as an admission of wrongdoing. The company continues to contest what it characterizes as insufficient epidemiological evidence linking its products to the outbreak under investigation.
This position is consistent with statements owner Mark McAfee has made throughout the investigation. As previously reported, Raw Farm began contesting the federal agencies’ claims in March, arguing that no pathogen had been isolated from its products and that the FDA’s and CDC’s advisory was premature. A subsequent update found that all government and internal test results remained 100% negative as of late March.
The FDA has not issued a formal recall. Instead, it sent a warning letter advising consumers to avoid Raw Farm products purchased on or after January 4, particularly raw milk cheddar cheese. According to a Los Angeles Times report published April 2, McAfee characterized the agency’s approach as a “backdoor move,” saying that issuing a public warning — without a confirmed positive test result from any Raw Farm product — was sufficient to prompt retailers to pull his products from shelves.
The FDA Investigation and Outbreak Status
The FDA and CDC have been investigating a multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened nine people across California, Florida, and Texas since September 2025, three of whom required hospitalization. More than half the cases involve children aged five or younger. One patient developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious kidney complication.
Genome sequencing of E. coli isolates from each patient indicated the strains are closely related, suggesting a common source. Eight patients or their caregivers were interviewed; all reported consuming raw dairy prior to illness. Five patients who fell ill in 2026 specifically reported eating Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese.
The California Department of Public Health acknowledged that retail cheese samples collected in March did not test positive for E. coli, but noted that those samples may not represent the lots consumed by ill individuals. CDPH stated it still considers Raw Farm raw dairy the source of the outbreak based on epidemiological data.
McAfee on the FDA’s Capacity and Consistency
McAfee did not limit his criticism to the evidentiary question. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, he questioned the coherence of the current federal regulatory environment. McAfee said the administration has “fired their best people at FDA and hired some good people and weird people and whatever,” describing the situation as “emblematic of a three ring circus” and faulting the administration for what he called a lack of consistency and policy adherence.
The concern about the FDA’s functional capacity extends beyond McAfee’s comments. The Department of Health and Human Services has shed more than 18,000 employees since January 2025, including roughly 4,500 at the FDA and more than 3,000 at the CDC. Food safety experts have warned that inspections, laboratory work, and outbreak investigations are among the agency functions most affected by those reductions — raising questions about the thoroughness and speed of investigations like the one currently underway at Raw Farm.
What Consumers Should Know
Consumers who have purchased Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese products with batch numbers at or before those listed in the table above should be aware of this recall. Raw Farm is advising the public to discard or return affected products.
For context on how voluntary recalls work in the raw dairy industry and what they mean for consumers, see How Raw Milk Recalls Work and the Raw Milk Recalls FAQ.
This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.
