Two San Diego County children younger than 5 are among 13 people infected in a multistate E. coli outbreak linked to Sierra Nevada Graziers raw-milk cheese, county and federal health officials reported Friday. The producer has recalled all Graziers raw-milk cheeses, and regulators are telling households, restaurants and retailers not to eat, serve or sell them.
The recalled products are medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack and Monterey jack sold in 8-ounce and 16-ounce retail packages and 5-pound loaves for food-service customers or wholesalers. The Food and Drug Administration says the cheese reached retailers nationwide and was also sold online. Because cheese can remain refrigerated or frozen for weeks, the agency advised consumers to check both places rather than relying on a recent shopping date.
The outbreak strain is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26:H11. FDA's September 25 update counted eight hospitalizations, three cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome and no deaths. Hemolytic uremic syndrome, often shortened to HUS, is a serious complication that can damage the kidneys. Illness onsets in the federal count ran through August 26, so the known case total does not describe every infection that may yet be identified.
Investigators interviewed nine ill people or caregivers about food eaten before symptoms began. All nine reported consuming Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw-milk cheese, according to FDA. That uniform exposure is strong outbreak evidence, but the agency said its investigation remains open as it works to determine the contamination source and whether other products could be affected.
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company agreed to begin the recall September 24 after FDA contacted the firm. The County announced the local cases and consumer warning the next day. Its account placed two of California's three identified patients in San Diego County, both under age 5. Young children are among the groups most vulnerable to severe illness from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
Symptoms can begin within a few days of eating contaminated food or as late as nine days afterward. FDA lists severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting; bloody diarrhea can signal a more serious infection. County officials advised immediate medical attention for symptoms consistent with E. coli, particularly severe cramps, bloody diarrhea or signs of dehydration. A clinician, not the product label alone, should assess a sick patient.
Consumers should throw away the recalled cheese or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. If cheese was stored without its original packaging and cannot be confidently identified, FDA recommends discarding it. Surfaces, utensils and containers that touched the product should be washed and sanitized to reduce cross-contamination. Retailers that repackaged the cheese for individual sale should remove it from the market.
The San Diego cases give the nationwide recall an immediate local dimension, but the investigation is still a snapshot. FDA's current map lists cases in nine states, while the County release describes 10; the federal case page provides the detailed state list and is being updated as the inquiry proceeds. The stable instruction across both notices is simpler: the named raw-milk cheeses should not be consumed while investigators trace how the outbreak occurred.