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Sierra Nevada Cheese Company is recalling all Graziers raw milk cheese products currently in distribution after FDA and CDC identified 13 illnesses in a multistate E. coli O26:H11 outbreak investigation. No specific lot or production date has been identified, so the recall covers multiple cheeses and package sizes distributed nationwide.
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company is recalling all Graziers raw milk cheese currently in distribution after federal investigators identified 13 illnesses in a multistate outbreak investigation involving E. coli O26:H11. The company says no specific lot or production date has been identified, so the recall covers several cheese varieties and package sizes distributed nationwide.
The recall includes Monterey Jack, Jalapeño Jack, Medium Cheddar and Sharp Cheddar. Listed products include 8-ounce square packages, a 16-ounce Medium Cheddar brick, five-pound loaves and a 40-pound cheddar block. The FDA announcement lists UPC or item numbers for the affected products; consumers can compare those identifiers with the full recall list in the agency’s notice.
FDA and CDC are investigating the 13 reported illnesses. According to information provided during the investigation, illnesses have been epidemiologically associated with consumption of Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar. Investigators have not identified a particular lot, production date or source of contamination. The company says it began the voluntary recall after FDA contacted it about the outbreak investigation.
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company says it has stopped production and shipments of all Graziers Raw Milk Cheese, notified customers who bought affected products directly, and issued notices on its website and social media. The company says it is cooperating with FDA and CDC. The FDA describes the recall notice as a company announcement it posted as a public service and says posting it does not constitute an endorsement.
What the Recall Means for Shoppers
The nationwide distribution means the recalled products may have reached consumers through retailers, distributors and direct sales. Because investigators have not narrowed the concern to a particular lot, the company’s recall applies to all listed Graziers raw milk cheese products currently in distribution, not only Medium Cheddar. Consumers should check product names, package sizes and UPC or item numbers against the recall notice.
E. coli O26:H11 is a Shiga toxin-producing strain that can cause diarrheal illness, sometimes with bloody stools, within days of exposure. The FDA announcement says many people recover within a week, while some infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at particular risk of severe illness.
The reported 13 illnesses are the number identified to date in the investigation, not a final count. The available announcement does not give a date range for those illnesses or describe patients’ current conditions. The outbreak inquiry and product recall matter because the source has not been pinpointed and affected food may still be in homes or stores.
How the Outbreak Led to Recall
The company announced the recall on September 28, 2026, and FDA published the announcement the following day. Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, based in Willows, California, initiated the voluntary action after FDA contacted it about the joint federal outbreak investigation. The company says it then halted production and shipments of the Graziers raw milk cheese line and contacted direct customers.
The investigation has linked illnesses epidemiologically to consumption of Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar, according to the information shared with investigators. That association informs the inquiry but does not establish a specific contaminated package, lot or production date. With those details unknown, the company is recalling all listed products currently in distribution as a precaution.
The recall list covers 10 product formats or item entries, from small consumer packages to a 40-pound cheddar block. The products were distributed nationwide through several channels. The notice does not provide a full list of retailers or a complete account of how far each product traveled, so consumers may need to use the product identifiers and contact the company with questions.
““At this time, the investigation has not been narrowed to a specific lot, date code, or production date.””
— Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, in its recall announcement
What Investigators Have Not Identified
Investigators have not identified a specific lot, production date or contamination source. The announcement does not say how the cheese may have become contaminated, which retailers carried each product, or whether every listed product was affected. It also does not provide the locations of the 13 illnesses, their onset dates, or patients’ outcomes.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the number of illnesses identified to date may not represent the final count. The reported epidemiological association with Medium Cheddar is part of the investigation; the notice does not establish that a specific package or batch caused any particular illness.
Consumer Steps and Investigation
Consumers who bought a listed Graziers product should not eat or serve it. The company and FDA advise returning it to the place of purchase for a refund or disposing of it. Consumers with questions can contact Sierra Nevada Cheese Company at (530) 934-8662, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, or email recallinfo@sierranevadacheese.com.
FDA and CDC say their investigation is continuing, and the company says it is cooperating. Further information may clarify the outbreak’s scope, identify affected production details or provide updated consumer guidance. Until investigators announce more, shoppers should use the recall’s listed product names and identifiers to check any Graziers raw milk cheese they have.
Key Questions
Which cheeses are included in the recall?
The recall covers Graziers raw milk Monterey Jack, Jalapeño Jack, Medium Cheddar and Sharp Cheddar in listed package sizes, including 8-ounce squares, a 16-ounce brick, five-pound loaves and a 40-pound block. Check the UPC and item numbers in the FDA notice.
Why did Sierra Nevada Cheese Company recall the products?
The company says it recalled all Graziers raw milk cheese currently in distribution after FDA contacted it about an ongoing outbreak investigation. Federal investigators have identified 13 illnesses involving E. coli O26:H11; illnesses have been epidemiologically associated with Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar.
What should I do if I bought one of the cheeses?
Do not consume or serve it. Return the product to the place of purchase for a refund or dispose of it. Contact the company by phone at (530) 934-8662 during the hours listed in the recall announcement, or email recallinfo@sierranevadacheese.com.
Has a contaminated lot or production date been identified?
No. The company and federal investigators say the inquiry has not been narrowed to a specific lot, date code or production date, and the source of contamination has not been identified.
Source: primary
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