Raw Farm Cheddar Cheese Recalled in Hawaii Over E. Coli Concerns

More than half of the nine people sickened in a multistate E. coli outbreak tied to Raw Farm cheddar cheese are children under age 5, and the median patient age is just 2 years old. Federal health officials warn the true case count is almost certainly higher. The Hawaii Department of Health's Food and Drug Branch issued a public alert on April 2, confirming the cheese had reached Hawaii specialty grocery stores and should be immediately returned or discarded.

Both block and shredded varieties of Raw Farm Raw Cheddar Cheese were distributed to Down to Earth stores and Hanalei Market in Hawaii. The recall covers all sizes and varieties purchased on or after January 4, 2026, including batches produced before that date. Hawaii's DOH Food and Drug Branch confirmed it is actively following up with both retailers to verify the products have been pulled from shelves. No illnesses have been reported in Hawaii.

Nationally, the nine confirmed cases span California (7), Florida (1), and Texas (1), with illness onset dates stretching from September 1, 2025, through February 20, 2026. Three patients have been hospitalized, and one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious kidney complication. The epidemiological picture is unambiguous: of the eight patients interviewed by public health officials, all eight reported consuming raw dairy products, and all seven who could identify a brand named Raw Farm.

What makes the outbreak timeline notable is that the company did not act willingly. Raw Farm president Aaron McAfee publicly called the FDA and CDC allegations "false," pointing to 3,238 internal E. coli tests conducted between September and March, all of which the company claims returned negative results. The FDA acknowledged it was unaware of any confirmed positive product tests from the outbreak period, but an on-site inspection at Raw Farm's Fresno, California, facility had been initiated and state partners had begun collecting samples. The company acted only after repeated pressure from federal regulators.

This is not Raw Farm's first confrontation with regulators over E. coli. In February 2024, a separate outbreak linked to the company's cheddar sickened 11 people across five states, with five hospitalizations and two cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome. Raw Farm issued a voluntary recall in that case on February 16, 2024, then withdrew it just 10 days later, again citing negative testing. Since 2006, the company, formerly known as Organic Pastures before rebranding in 2020, has been connected to 15 separate foodborne illness incidents involving E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Campylobacter.

The current outbreak has also drawn congressional scrutiny. The U.S. Food Safety Caucus urged the FDA to mandate a recall, citing concerns about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s ties to Raw Farm. In June 2024, Kennedy's then-VP running mate Nicole Shanahan visited the Fresno farm on the campaign's behalf.

Anyone who purchased Raw Farm Raw Cheddar Cheese at Down to Earth or Hanalei Market on or after January 4, 2026, should return it to the store for a full refund. E. coli O157:H7 symptoms, including severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and fever, typically begin three to nine days after exposure; anyone experiencing them should contact a healthcare provider immediately. Children under 5 face the highest risk of complications. Consumers with questions can contact Raw Farm at rawfarmusa.com/contact.