TL;DR
Get kitchen staples and gadgets delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company is recalling all Graziers raw milk cheese currently in distribution because of possible E. coli O26:H11 contamination. FDA and CDC say 13 illnesses have been identified in a multistate outbreak investigation; consumers should not eat the recalled products.
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company is recalling all Graziers raw milk cheese currently in distribution because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O26:H11, the company said in a recall announcement dated September 28. FDA and CDC have identified 13 illnesses in a multistate outbreak investigation, and illnesses have been epidemiologically associated with consumption of the brand’s raw milk medium cheddar.
The recall covers four varieties: Monterey Jack, Jalapeno Jack, Medium Cheddar and Sharp Cheddar. The products were distributed nationwide through distributors, retailers and direct customers. The company says it acted after FDA contacted it about the ongoing outbreak investigation.
The notice lists products in several formats, including 8-ounce squares, a 16-ounce cheddar brick, 5-pound loaves and a 40-pound cheddar block. Listed UPCs include 6-87652-16400-9 for Monterey Jack, 6-87652-16403-0 for Jalapeno Jack, 6-87652-16506-8 for Medium Cheddar and 6-87652-16507-5 for Sharp Cheddar. The notice also identifies larger products by item numbers: 6425, 6426, 6510, 6511, and 6515 and 6516 for the 40-pound block.
The company says it has stopped production and shipment of all Graziers raw milk cheese, notified customers who bought affected products directly, and posted notices on its website and social media. It is cooperating with FDA and CDC. The FDA notice describes the recall announcement as a company statement posted as a public service and says the agency does not endorse the product or company.
Nationwide Recall Follows Outbreak Link
The recall reaches consumers across the country because the cheese was distributed nationwide and the investigation has not identified a single production date or lot to target. That uncertainty led the company to include all Graziers raw milk cheese currently in distribution, rather than only the medium cheddar linked epidemiologically to illnesses.
E. coli O26:H11 is a type of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC. The company’s notice says infection can cause acute diarrhea, often with bloody stools, within days of ingestion. Most people recover within a week, but some infections can progress to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause anemia, low platelet counts and kidney failure. The notice identifies young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems as groups at particular risk.
For shoppers, the immediate issue is whether any recalled cheese is at home or has been served. The company advises consumers not to consume or serve it, and to return it to the place of purchase for a refund or dispose of it. Anyone who has eaten the cheese and feels ill can contact a health professional for advice; the notice does not state that every consumer who ate the product will become sick.
How the Recall Expanded Beyond Cheddar
The FDA published the company’s announcement on September 29, 2026, one day after the company announcement was dated. The recall followed contact from FDA during a joint FDA and CDC investigation into a multistate outbreak of E. coli O26:H11. The available notice does not identify the affected states or provide a timeline for the illnesses.
According to the recall notice, the investigation’s information epidemiologically associated illnesses with Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar. That wording describes an association identified during the investigation; it does not establish that a particular lot or production date caused the illnesses. Since investigators had not narrowed the concern to a specific lot, date code or production date, Sierra Nevada expanded the recall to every listed Graziers raw milk cheese product currently in distribution.
The company is based in Willows, California. Its notice says it is cooperating with FDA and CDC as they continue investigating. No source of contamination had been identified in the announcement.
““out of an abundance of caution””
— Sierra Nevada Cheese Company
Investigators Have Not Identified a Lot
The notice says investigators have not identified a specific lot, production date or source of contamination. It also does not provide the names of affected states, when the reported illnesses began, or whether any additional cases have been identified since the announcement. The 13 illnesses are the number identified to date in the notice, not a final count.
Although illnesses were epidemiologically associated with the medium cheddar, the announcement does not say that testing confirmed contamination in a particular cheese sample. The investigation remains ongoing, and the available information does not establish which products or batches, if any, were directly responsible for individual illnesses.
Consumers Should Check Their Cheese
Consumers who have any of the listed Graziers products should not eat or serve them. The company advises returning the cheese to the place of purchase for a refund or disposing of it. The notice does not give a deadline for returns. Consumers with questions can call Sierra Nevada Cheese Company at (530) 934-8662, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, or email recallinfo@sierranevadacheese.com.
FDA and CDC say their investigation is continuing, while the company says it has stopped production and shipment of all Graziers raw milk cheese. The notice does not state when production might resume or when investigators expect to identify a contamination source. Further information may clarify the illness count, affected products and the scope of the outbreak.
Key Questions
Which Graziers cheeses are included in the recall?
The recall includes raw milk Monterey Jack, Jalapeno Jack, Medium Cheddar and Sharp Cheddar in the listed package sizes and bulk formats. The announcement identifies products by UPC or item number, including 8-ounce squares, a 16-ounce cheddar brick, 5-pound loaves and a 40-pound block.
Why is Sierra Nevada recalling every listed variety?
The investigation has not been narrowed to a particular lot, date code or production date. Although illnesses have been epidemiologically associated with Graziers raw milk medium cheddar, the company says it is recalling all Graziers raw milk cheese currently in distribution as a precaution.
What should I do if I bought the recalled cheese?
Do not consume or serve it. The company advises returning it to the place of purchase for a refund or disposing of it. Questions can be directed to the company by phone at (530) 934-8662 during its listed weekday hours, or by email at recallinfo@sierranevadacheese.com.
How many illnesses have been reported, and what is known about them?
FDA and CDC have identified 13 illnesses in a multistate E. coli O26:H11 outbreak investigation, according to the notice. It does not give the affected states or say whether additional cases have been found. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: primary
NFL season / tailgating Picks
team gear
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
