E. coli outbreak tied to raw milk cheese hits California with multiple cases

An E. coli nightmare has spread across nine states, sending toddlers to the hospital, after an outbreak that originated at a raw milk cheese company in Northern California.

Thirteen E. coli cases have already been linked to four different types of raw milk cheese produced by Sierra Nevada Graziers in Willows, California. Three Californians have been hit with E. coli infections.

More than half of the cases were in children 5 years old or younger, which resulted in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalling the four types of cheese.

“Recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses: medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack, and Monterey jack sold at retail in 8-oz or 16-oz packages and available to food service customers or wholesalers in 5-lb loaves,” the FDA said.

Eight people have been hospitalized and three have been hit with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which is a severe medical condition that can lead to kidney failure, according to the CDC.

People are advised to check to see if they have any of the recalled cheese and to throw it away if they are in possession of it. Any items and surfaces that might have touched the product should be washed using hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.

This comes after another E. coli outbreak linked to a California company affected nine people across three states back in March.

Seven of the cases were in California and over half of those nine cases also involved children under five years old. Raw Farm’s raw cheddar cheese was forced to recall its product as a result of the incidents.

Founded in 1997, Sierra Nevada Cheese Co. is based out of Willows, California and sells cheese, butter, yogurt and cream cheese to consumers nationwide.

Along with California, Nevada also recorded three cases related to the bacteria. All seven other states only have one so far.

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