WASHINGTON — A surge in E. coli infections linked to raw cheddar cheese has been reported, with federal health officials confirming two additional cases. The total number of cases has now reached nine, spanning across three states. Of these, three individuals required hospitalization, and one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that may result in kidney failure.

The strain of E. coli under investigation poses a significant health risk, potentially causing severe kidney issues. Typically, this bacterium is responsible for ailments such as diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and sepsis. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported so far, according to the FDA.

Health officials have highlighted that over half of those affected are children younger than five years old.

A group of seven individuals interviewed by FDA investigators confirmed consuming the same cheese before falling ill. Despite this link, the cheese manufacturer is currently refusing to issue a product recall.

Seven people who were interviewed by Food and Drug Administration investigators said they all ate the same cheese before getting sick. Despite that, the producer of the cheese won’t recall the products.

The FDA and CDC began investigating the outbreak in early March after testing of infected people in California, Florida and Texas showed they all had the same strain of E. coli. Seven of those cases told investigators they ate RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese.

“Epidemiologic evidence indicates that RAW FARM-brand raw cheddar cheese products made by RAW FARM, LLC are the likely source of this outbreak,” the FDA said in a press release on Mar. 15. 

Illnesses were reported between September 2025 and mid-February, the agency said.

Due to the findings, the FDA recommended that RAW FARM voluntarily remove their raw cheese products from the market, but the company has refused to do so. FDA officials also said that no RAW FARM brand cheddar cheese products have tested positive for E. coli. But, the investigation is ongoing and state partners have initiated testing of the products, the results of which are not yet available.

Most of the infections confirmed so far have been in California.  

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged consumers to “consider not eating” the products.

Mark McAfee, owner of Raw Farm, told the Associated Press earlier this month he refused to recall the products because investigators have not definitively linked them to any illnesses.

“They have found no pathogens in any of our products,” McAfee said in an interview. He disputed the FDA’s findings that the cases were genetically linked and said that the announcement of the outbreak was premature.

This isn’t the first time in recent years that Raw Farm pushed back on a recommendation to recall their products. Back in 2024, the company’s raw cheddar cheese was also linked to an E. coli outbreak. While the company initially agreed to recall products, it later withdrew that recall against the CDC’s advice. 

The FDA advised anyone with E. coli symptoms to contact their health care provider to report the illness and receive care. Severe illnesses or allergic reactions can be reported to the FDA by calling a Consumer Complaint Coordinator or filling out an online Voluntary MedWatch form.

Hunter Bassler contributed to this report.