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 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. In July 2024, an estimated 165 people in California became ill in a Salmonella outbreak linked to Raw Farm raw milk. Later that year, 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. On April 7, 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 Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese, raw milk, or any other Raw Farm product and developed E. coli, Salmonella, or HUS, your family may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, hospitalization costs, pediatric kidney care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Repeat outbreak history and delayed recall response can support negligence and punitive damages arguments. Contact our food poisoning law firm at 1-888-335-4901 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Health Risks
Raw Farm raw dairy products have been linked to repeated E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella outbreaks affecting consumers across the country.
How E. coli O157:H7 Harms Children
E. coli O157:H7 produces Shiga toxin, which damages the lining of blood vessels and kidneys. Severe stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea usually start 3 to 4 days after exposure. Young children face the highest risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a kidney complication that can require dialysis and cause permanent damage.
Salmonella and Raw Milk
Raw milk can carry Salmonella from infected cows or contaminated equipment. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that usually start 6 hours to 6 days after exposure. Older adults, infants, and immunocompromised people are at the highest risk of severe illness.
Avian Influenza in Raw Milk
In late 2024, regulators ordered Raw Farm to recall raw milk twice after testing detected H5N1 bird flu virus. Pasteurization inactivates H5N1. Raw milk does not. Consumption of contaminated raw milk creates direct risk of cross-species infection.
Why Aging Is Not Enough
Federal regulations require raw milk cheese to be aged at least 60 days. The 2026 Raw Farm cheddar outbreak shows that aging alone may not eliminate harmful bacteria when raw milk is contaminated at the source. That makes upstream testing and recall response especially important.