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Cheeses produced with raw milk by a Northern California company have been recalled after they were linked to an E. coli outbreak, federal officials said.
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The cheeses were sold at retailers nationwide and online, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday in a recall warning.
Here’s what to know:
Which cheeses were recalled? Why?
Grass-fed raw milk cheeses, including medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño Jack and Monterey Jack under the Sierra Nevada Graziers brand name, were recalled.
The products are produced by Sierra Nevada Cheese Co., based in Willows in Northern California. Willows is about 90 miles northwest of Sacramento.
The company said in a statement on Facebook that it was voluntarily recalling all of its Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese products “out of an abundance of caution.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the trust and support of our customers and community, and we appreciate your understanding as we take this precautionary step,” the company said.
Health officials in several states are investigating an E. coli outbreak linked to Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheeses, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
More than half of the people who became sick were younger than 5 years old.
E. coli is a type of bacteria that can cause illness, including diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and sepsis, the CDC said. In severe cases, an infection can result in death.
Symptoms included diarrhea that could be bloody or watery and stomach cramps that could be severe, the agency said.
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How can I tell if I bought recalled cheese?
The recalled cheeses were sold in 8-ounce and 16-ounce packages and were also available to food service customers and wholesalers in 5-pound loaves, the FDA said.
Cases of E. coli infections related to the recalled cheeses were reported in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah.
The recall notice did not include lot numbers or product dates, but the CDC warning noted that the cheeses could have a long shelf life.
Sierra Nevada Cheese Co. posted some affected lot numbers.
Where were recalled dairy products sold?
The cheeses were sold by retailers nationwide and online, but the FDA did not identify specific stores.
What should I do if I bought recalled cheese?
Consumers were warned not to eat, serve or sell recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses, the FDA said. Customers who purchased recalled cheeses could return them for refunds.
“Check your refrigerators and freezers for the recalled raw milk cheeses and throw them away,” the agency advised. “If you refrigerated or froze cheese without the original packaging and can’t tell if it’s part of the recall, throw it away.”
Consumers also were advised to carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers the cheeses may have touched.
For more information on the recall, consumers could contact the company at [email protected].
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