Graziers Raw Milk Cheese Recall: What to Check in Your Fridge and What Symptoms Need Care

• The FDA and CDC say a multistate E. coli O26:H11 outbreak is linked to Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese. The investigation remains ongoing as of September 25, 2026.
• The recall covers medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack, and Monterey jack in 8-ounce and 16-ounce packages, plus 5-pound food-service loaves. Do not eat, sell, or serve these products.
• Check refrigerators and freezers, discard unidentified cheese if you cannot confirm it is safe, clean anything it touched, and contact a healthcare provider promptly if symptoms develop.

What happened with the Graziers raw milk cheese recall?

The FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O26:H11 infections linked to Sierra Nevada Cheese Company’s Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses. The company began recalling all Graziers raw milk cheeses on September 24, 2026, after the FDA contacted the firm about the outbreak.

As of the FDA’s September 25 update, 13 people were sick, eight had been hospitalized, and three had developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a serious complication that can affect the kidneys. No deaths had been reported. Cases had been identified in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah. The product was distributed nationwide in the United States and sold both in stores and online.

The investigation is still active. Federal and state officials are working to determine the source of contamination and whether any additional products could be affected.

Which Graziers cheeses are recalled?

The recall includes these Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese varieties:

The FDA says all Graziers raw milk cheeses are covered by the recall, so consumers should not rely only on a lot code, expiration date, or package size to decide whether a product is safe.

If you purchased one of these cheeses, do not taste it, serve it, or use it in cooking. Consumers may return recalled cheese to the place of purchase for a refund. Restaurants, retailers, wholesalers, and other food-service businesses should remove the products from sale and service immediately.

What should you do if you have the cheese at home?

1. Check your refrigerator and freezer. The cheese may still be present because it has a relatively long shelf life.
2. Do not open or taste the package. Contaminated food can look and smell normal.
3. Throw it away or return it. If you return it, keep the package contained and avoid touching other food.
4. Discard cheese without identifiable packaging. If you froze or refrigerated Graziers cheese outside its original package and cannot confirm that it is safe, the FDA says to throw it away.
5. Wash your hands. Use soap and warm water after handling the package or cleaning the refrigerator area.

Do not give the recalled cheese to pets or attempt to make it safe by melting, baking, or cooking it. Heating may reduce some foodborne risks, but the official instruction for this recalled product is to discard it or return it.

How to clean surfaces that touched recalled cheese

Cheese can leave bacteria on cutting boards, knives, plates, counters, refrigerator shelves, food containers, and other surfaces. After removing the product, wash items that may have touched it with hot, soapy water. Items that are dishwasher-safe can go through the dishwasher.

For hard kitchen surfaces, clean first and then sanitize using a product labeled for use on food-contact surfaces. Follow the product label for dilution, contact time, and rinsing instructions. Launder cloth towels used during cleanup, and wash your hands again when you finish.

Businesses and food-service operators should also clean and sanitize equipment, prep areas, storage containers, and surfaces that may have contacted the recalled cheese. Repackaged cheese should not be sold or served.

What E. coli symptoms should you watch for?

Symptoms can begin a few days after eating contaminated food and, according to the FDA, may appear as late as nine days afterward. Common symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections can cause bloody diarrhea and may lead to HUS.

Contact a healthcare provider promptly if you ate recalled Graziers cheese and develop symptoms. The CDC says to seek care right away for:

• Bloody diarrhea
• Diarrhea lasting more than two days without improvement
• Diarrhea with a fever above 102°F
• Vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down
• Signs of dehydration, including very little urination, dry mouth or throat, or dizziness when standing

Children age 5 and younger are at higher risk of severe foodborne illness, and the CDC says more than half of the sick people in this outbreak are children in that age group. Older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with a weakened immune system should also contact a healthcare professional if they develop concerning symptoms.

Do not wait for symptoms to become severe if you are worried about possible exposure. A clinician can decide whether testing, monitoring, or additional treatment is appropriate. If someone has severe dehydration, becomes confused, or appears seriously ill, seek emergency medical care.

What is confirmed, and what is still unknown?

Federal investigators have linked the outbreak to Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese based on the available epidemiologic evidence. The FDA reports that all nine interviewed ill people who had food-history information reported consuming this brand of cheese.

That does not mean every package or every piece of cheese caused illness, and the agencies have not announced the specific point where contamination occurred. The FDA is continuing its investigation and may update the product list, case count, or consumer instructions as more information becomes available.

The current federal notice identifies nationwide distribution in the United States. It does not establish that the products were sold in Canada or announce a separate Canadian recall. Canadian shoppers should not assume that a similar-looking raw milk cheese is part of this recall without checking the product name and official notices for their province or territory.

What happens next?

The outbreak investigation is ongoing, and the FDA says the advisory will be updated if investigators identify additional affected products or new safety information. For now, the practical action is straightforward: do not eat, sell, or serve any recalled Graziers raw milk cheese; remove it from your refrigerator or freezer; clean surfaces and containers it touched; and seek medical advice if symptoms appear after possible exposure.

Helpful Links

• FDA outbreak investigation – Review the current recall scope, case counts, affected varieties, and FDA consumer instructions.
• CDC E. coli outbreak advisory – Check CDC guidance on symptoms, urgent warning signs, recalled cheese, and cleaning.
• FDA safe food handling guidance – Find federal guidance for cleaning, sanitizing, storing, and handling food safely.
• FDA MedWatch online reporting form – Submit a voluntary online report about a suspected food-related adverse event to the FDA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I eat Graziers cheese if it has been cooked or melted?

A. No. The FDA and CDC say not to eat, serve, or sell the recalled Graziers raw milk cheeses. Do not try to make the product safe by melting or cooking it; discard it or return it to the place of purchase.

Q. What if I ate the recalled cheese but feel fine?

A. Monitor yourself for symptoms for up to nine days after eating it, including severe cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, or vomiting. Contact a healthcare provider if symptoms develop, especially bloody diarrhea, dehydration, persistent diarrhea, or vomiting that prevents you from drinking fluids.

Q. Should I throw away other food stored near the recalled cheese?

A. Not automatically. Remove the recalled cheese and clean and sanitize shelves, containers, utensils, cutting boards, and other surfaces it touched. If another food was directly contaminated or cannot be safely separated from the recalled product, discard it.

Q. Is this Graziers recall confirmed for Canada?

A. The current FDA and CDC notices describe nationwide distribution in the United States. They do not announce a separate Canadian recall or confirm Canadian distribution. Canadian consumers should check official Canadian and provincial food-recall notices if they purchased the product.