In a troubling development, a raw milk dairy from California has been pinpointed as the source of an E. coli outbreak tied to cheddar cheese. This incident has impacted nine individuals across three states, marking another chapter in the dairy’s contentious history.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a health alert, highlighting that over half of the affected individuals are children under the age of five. The outbreak involves the dangerous E. coli strain O157:H7, which has led to the hospitalization of three people. Alarmingly, one victim has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe condition that can result in kidney failure.

According to the FDA, the bacterial samples drawn from those who fell ill between September of last year and February 2026 reveal genetic similarities. The majority of cases—seven in total—emerged in California, with additional cases reported in Florida and Texas.

At the heart of this outbreak is Raw Farm, located in Fresno, California, recognized as the largest producer of raw milk in the United States. Earlier this month, the FDA identified Raw Farm as the “likely source” of the E. coli contamination.

This isn’t the first time Raw Farm has faced scrutiny. Back in December 2024, the farm was linked to an H5N1 bird flu outbreak in three cats from the Los Angeles area that had consumed its raw milk. Tragically, two of these cats died, sparking concerns that felines, much like pigs, possess cellular receptors that enable them to serve as “mixing vessels” for avian and mammalian influenza viruses.

Moreover, Raw Farm has previously been associated with a significant salmonella outbreak in 2024, which resulted in at least 165 individuals falling ill, marking it as the largest such outbreak in over a decade. This series of incidents raises ongoing concerns about the safety practices at the farm and the broader implications for public health.

In the cheddar cheese case, Raw Farm’s president, Aaron McAfee, told NBC News that he won’t voluntarily recall any of his products unless there’s “direct proof” linking to the illnesses.

No Raw Farm products have been reported to test positive for E coli and the FDA has not issued a mandatory recall of Raw Farm products, but it has recommended the producer remove cheese products from store shelves voluntarily.

“We’ve sampled 81 samples that we purchased off retail stores in California, where we continue to sell and those were all negative. If I had any concern, I would have issued a voluntary recall,” McAfee said.

An FDA spokesperson told NBC that the agency’s investigation is ongoing and it had issued “an outbreak advisory to inform consumers, restaurants and retailers of the current facts, and initiated an on-site inspection”.

Separately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising people to “consider not eating this cheese while the investigation continues” and to wash any items and surfaces – like box shredders, knives and countertops – that may have touched the cheese.