FDA has recommended that RAW FARM, LLC voluntarily remove their raw cheese products from the market, and the firm has declined. FDA image

Raw Farm in Fresno County is under investigation for its raw cheddar cheese linked to an ongoing E. coli outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on March 15.

According to the FDA, people who fell ill reported eating Raw Farm-brand block and shredded cheddar cheeses. The company has declined to issue a recall for their cheese made from its raw, unpasteurized milk.

The ongoing outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, also known as STEC, is linked to Raw Farm-brand cheddar cheese based on epidemiological data, according to the FDA.

This type of E. coli can cause serious kidney problems, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which requires hospitalization and can lead to death.

Those affected in this outbreak are young, with a median age of three years old. No deaths associated with this outbreak have been reported, nor have any actual HUS cases. No Raw Farm products have tested positive for E. coli during the outbreak period, the FDA noted

Consumers, restaurants retailers and foodservice customers who purchased or received Raw Farm’s cheddar cheese, including wholesale products, are encouraged to carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched.

The FDA is providing information to consumers and retailers to make them aware of the outbreak before deciding to eat Raw Farm-brand cheddar cheeses or serve it to children.

As of March 14, there have been seven confirmed infections in three states, including five in California, one in Florida and one in Texas.

The FDA has recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove their raw cheese products from the market. the firm has declined. 

On their website, Raw Farm said they disagree “100%” with the allegations made by the FDA and the CDC.

“This is not a recall. All our milk is tested prior to making cheese and our finished cheese is tested prior to release. We have no customer complaints at this time. FDA has found no products testing positive in the marketplace. California Department of Food and Agriculture and the State of California are not taking any action.  This is FDA only.  We have cited 9 misleading and factually inaccurate statements made by the FDA and CDC.  We are inquiring as to the basis for their extreme over reaction,” their statement said.

Raw Farm President Aaron McAfee said that for the first time in the company’s history, they declined to issue a voluntary recall.

In the past, McAfee said they owned their mistakes, whether they agreed with it or not, and were proud to learn something new each time.

He noted that Raw Farms tests every single batch of cheese they make before they release it to consumers, as well as their milk. 

“If we have any kind of direct connection to what’s going on, we will be the first to issue a voluntary recall and the first to tell you to throw away our products and not consume them until further notice. That’s not the case right now. Something else is going on. We are going to get to the bottom of it and we will let you know.” McAfee said.

The company said on their website that inaccurate statements made by the FDA and CDC linking the brand to an outbreak is egregious and extreme harassment towards the brand.