Why were raw cheddar E. coli linked?

FDA links raw-cheese products to E. coli illnesses

The FDA linked cheddar cheese made from raw (unpasteurized) milk to a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC). In the story pool, the agency’s action centers on Raw Farm brand cheeses and says the maker disputed the link and refused to issue a recall.

What happened

• The FDA identified Raw Farm shredded Cheddar products as associated with E. coli illnesses in multiple states.
• The outbreak included several cases in young children.
• The cheese’s producer declined to issue a recall of the implicated products.

Why it matters

STEC infections can cause serious complications, particularly in children. FDA’s decision to connect a specific food category—cheddar made from raw milk—to illnesses across states increases pressure on food safety and traceability practices, including how raw dairy products are produced, tested, and labeled. The maker’s refusal to recall also raises the stakes for regulators and public health officials as they work to prevent additional infections.

What’s still unclear from the excerpts

The provided material does not include detailed microbiology findings (such as the exact strain) or describe how exposure occurred. It also doesn’t specify what corrective actions—beyond declining to recall—Raw Farm plans to take.

Overall, the key takeaway is that FDA used outbreak investigation signals to connect raw-cheese products to confirmed E. coli illnesses, while the company contested that link.