Raw Cheddar Recalled in 7 States After E. Coli Found
Two dangerous E. coli strains were found in 8-ounce packages sold across the East Coast.
Maryland lab tests detected two strains of E. coli in 8-ounce packages of Family Farmstead Dairy raw cheddar cheese, prompting a recall across seven states on the East Coast. No illnesses have been reported, according to an Oct. 15 notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The contamination involves E. coli O26:H11 and O45:H2. Both are Shiga toxin-producing strains. They cause bloody diarrhea and can trigger Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure that disproportionately kills young children and the elderly.
Family Farmstead Dairy, based in Worcester, New York, recalled its Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese carrying lot code and best-by date 7/22/27. Retailers in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts received shipments. The company warned downstream distributors may have pushed the product into additional states.
Raw milk products bypass pasteurization, the heat treatment that destroys pathogens. That regulatory gap makes them frequent targets for FDA enforcement. The agency has tracked dozens of recalls tied to unpasteurized dairy over the past decade, with E. coli and Listeria serving as the most common contaminants.
No other Family Farmstead Dairy products are included in the recall.
Consumers who purchased the affected cheese should throw it away or return it for a full refund. “Product quality is an utmost priority here at Family Farmstead so we are committed to identifying the cause of this issue and taking all necessary corrective actions to ensure the continued safety and quality of our products,” the company said in a statement.
Family Farmstead Dairy could not immediately be reached for additional comment.
