A multistate E. coli O26:H11 outbreak has triggered the Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese recall: the FDA and CDC report 13 illnesses and 8 hospitalizations across 9 states as of September 25, 2026, after Sierra Nevada Cheese Company recalled all Graziers raw milk cheese varieties. Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve the recalled cheese and should return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
What Was Recalled, and Why
The FDA and CDC, working with state and local health officials, are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O26:H11 infections tied to Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese. Of the 9 people interviewed by public health officials so far, all 9 (100%) reported eating Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese before getting sick.
On September 24, 2026, the FDA contacted Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, LLC to notify the firm of the outbreak and recommend a recall. The company agreed the same day and initiated a recall of all Graziers Raw Milk Cheeses. The recalled cheeses include medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack, and Monterey jack varieties, sold at retail in 8-oz and 16-oz packages and distributed to food service customers and wholesalers in 5-lb loaves. The product was sold nationwide, in stores and online.
The FDA’s investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and whether any other products are affected. Consumers, restaurants, retailers, and foodservice customers who received recalled raw milk cheese should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers it touched.
Anyone who has this cheese in their refrigerator or freezer, including cheese repackaged from its original packaging, should throw it away. Because raw milk cheese has a long shelf life, the FDA is warning that older purchases may still be in circulation.
Read the FDA’s full outbreak investigation update.
Does This Affect a Recipe You’re Planning to Make?
If you were planning to feature cheddar or jack-style cheeses on a snacking spread, check your inventory before building a Thanksgiving charcuterie board — raw milk block cheeses like the recalled Graziers varieties are a common choice for boards like this. Confirm any cheese you already have on hand isn’t from the recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers line before serving it.
Is This Common?
E. coli outbreaks linked to raw (unpasteurized) milk products are reported by federal health agencies several times a year, since raw milk cheese does not go through the pasteurization step that kills common pathogens like E. coli and Listeria. Federal regulators generally treat these outbreaks as higher-risk situations and move quickly to recommend recalls once a product is linked to multiple illnesses, as they did here just one day after contacting the company.
Quick Answers
Should I throw out this product?
Yes. The FDA says consumers should not eat, serve, or sell recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese (medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack, or Monterey jack) and should throw it away, including cheese that was repackaged and can no longer be identified.
Has anyone gotten sick?
Yes. As of the FDA’s September 25, 2026 update, 13 illnesses and 8 hospitalizations, including 3 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), have been reported across California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah. No deaths have been reported.
How do I know if my product is affected?
Any Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese — medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack, or Monterey jack, in 8-oz or 16-oz retail packages or 5-lb foodservice loaves — is included in the recall, since the company recalled the entire Graziers raw milk cheese line. If you can’t tell whether cheese in your fridge or freezer is part of the recall, the FDA recommends throwing it away.
Sources
Update Log
- September 25, 2026: Article published following the FDA and CDC’s announcement of the multistate E. coli O26:H11 outbreak investigation and Sierra Nevada Cheese Company’s recall of all Graziers raw milk cheese varieties.
