Raw Farm Disputes FDA Link Between Fresno Cheese and E. Coli Outbreak

Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee is refusing to pull his Fresno County cheese from store shelves after federal health officials identified his company's raw cheddar as the likely source of a multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that sickened seven people and hospitalized two, with four of the seven victims being children under age 3.

The FDA and CDC, which have been tracking illnesses reported between September 1, 2025, and February 13, 2026, pointed to Raw Farm's raw cheddar sold in 8-ounce shredded bags and 8-ounce blocks after interviews with three of the sick patients, all of whom reported eating the cheese before falling ill. Investigators also found that E. coli isolates collected from sick patients were closely genetically related, suggesting a common source. Five of the seven confirmed cases are in California, with one each in Texas and Florida. No deaths or cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome have been reported.

McAfee rejected both the epidemiological findings and the genetic analysis. "They have found no pathogens in any of our products," he said, adding that he refused to recall because "investigators have not definitively linked them to any illnesses." He disputed the FDA's genetic-linkage conclusion and called the outbreak announcement premature. In statements on the company's social media, Raw Farm escalated its pushback further, declaring "There is NO ACTUAL LINK to our brand or products" and characterizing the federal investigation as "a witch hunt for raw dairy foods and real raw cheese." The company also called the agencies' statements "egregious and extreme harassment towards our brand" and said it had provided the FDA with negative lab results from testing conducted both before and during the investigation period.

The FDA acknowledged that no Raw Farm products have tested positive for E. coli in the marketplace. State partners, however, have begun collecting product samples for further analysis, and the investigation remains open. Because Raw Farm declined the FDA's recommendation to voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from sale, no recall is in place and the product may still be available at retailers. Raw Farm brand cheeses are sold at stores nationwide.

The CDC urged consumers to "consider not eating" the implicated products. Raw milk cheeses, made from unpasteurized milk, carry a higher risk of bacterial contamination than cheeses made from pasteurized milk, and E. coli O157:H7 poses particular dangers to young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. In severe cases the infection can lead to kidney complications.

Raw Farm is described as the nation's largest producer of raw dairy products. The FDA and CDC said they are continuing to collect outbreak data and investigate the origin of the contamination.