Company Overview
About Raw Farm
Raw Farm, LLC, based in Fresno, California, is one of the largest producers of raw (unpasteurized) milk and raw dairy products in the United States. The company was founded in 1998 as Organic Pastures Dairy Company and later rebranded as Raw Farm. It sells raw cheddar cheese, raw milk, raw cream, raw kefir, and raw butter through retailers including Sprouts Farmers Market, H-E-B, and Whole Foods.
A Pattern of Outbreaks
Raw Farm has been tied to multiple foodborne illness investigations involving its raw dairy line. Historical context (not detailed as separate pages on this site): in February 2024, FDA linked an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak to Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese that sickened 11 people across 5 states, hospitalized 5, and caused 2 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Raw Farm initially issued a recall and then withdrew it while the investigation was still active. A Salmonella outbreak tied to Raw Farm raw milk sickened 165 people across California and four other states, with illnesses reported from September 2023 through March 2024, most of them in California. Later in 2024, regulators ordered Raw Farm to recall raw milk twice after testing detected H5N1 (bird flu) contamination, raising new questions about the safety of raw dairy in commercial distribution.
The most recent outbreak, and the one detailed on this site, is the March 2026 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that FDA and CDC linked to Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese. Nine people in California, Florida, and Texas were sickened. Three were hospitalized and one developed HUS. Over half of the victims were children under the age of 5, with a median age of 2 years old.
Delayed Recall in the 2026 Outbreak
On March 15, 2026, FDA recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw cheddar cheese from the market. Raw Farm declined. The company waited until April 2, 2026 to issue a voluntary recall, more than two weeks after FDA’s initial request. During that time, Raw Farm cheese remained on store shelves after serious illnesses in children had been linked to the product. In early April, Raw Farm revised the recall language to state that it “disputes being the cause” of the outbreak.
Your Legal Options
If you or your child consumed a Raw Farm product and developed E. coli, Salmonella, or HUS, a claim may seek medical expenses, hospitalization costs, pediatric kidney care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages allowed by law. Prior investigations and the timing of a recall may be relevant to negligence or punitive-damages arguments, depending on the evidence and governing law. Read our E. coli lawyer guide or request a free consultation.