Investigators from the Food and Drug Administration have begun an onsite inspection of Raw Farm LLC dairy because it is the likely source of an E. coli outbreak.
The FDA has requested that the Fresno, CA, dairy recall its block and shredded raw milk cheddar cheese, but the dairy owners have refused to do so. So far seven people have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. They live in California, Texas and Florida.
Three of the sick people specifically eating Raw Farm raw milk cheddar cheese becoming ill. Four of the patients are children aged 3 and younger. Two of the patients have been hospitalized. The FDA has declared that cheese from the dairy is the most likely cause of the illnesses.
The McAfee family, which owns the dairy, has taken the fight to social media where it is claiming that its products are safe. However, Raw Farm products are not pasteurized — a 15-second heat treatment — to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria.
The congressionalFood Safety Caucus, led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, has asked the FDA to use its authority to force Raw Farm to recall its products, but the agency has not yet done so
The FDA is housed in the Department of Health and Human Services which is under the command of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy is a long-time customer of Raw Farm.
Raw Farm’s products have been linked to several outbreaks in recent years and subject to numerous recalls.
Date
Product
Contaminant
Recall/Illnesses
September 2006
Raw Milk
E. coli O157:H7
Six ill, two with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
September 2007
Raw Cream
Listeria monocytogenes
Recall Issued
December 2007
Raw Milk
Campylobacter
Eight Illnesses
September 2008
Raw Cream
Campylobacter
Recall Issued
November 2011
Raw Milk
E. coli O157:H7
Five ill, three with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
May 2012
Raw Milk/Cream
Campylobacter
10 Illnesses
October 2015
Raw Milk
Campylobacter
Recall Issued
January 2016
Raw Milk
E. coli O157:H7
Nine ill, two with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
May 2023
Raw Milk
Campylobacter
Recall Issued
August 2023
Unpasteurized Cheese
Salmonella
Recall Issued
December 2023
Raw Milk
Salmonella
19 Illnesses
October 2024
Raw Milk
Salmonella
171 Illnesses
December 2024
Unpasteurized Cheese
E. coli O157:H7
11 illnesses