--- title: "Sierra Nevada Cheese Company Recalls All Graziers Raw Milk Cheese for E. coli O26:H11: Every Size, Every UPC, No Lot Codes — 13 Sick in Nine States, 8 Hospitalized, 3 with HUS" date: 2026-09-29T11:20:27-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/sierra-nevada-cheese-company-recalls-all-graziers-raw-milk-cheese-for-e-coli-o26h11-every-size-every-upc-no-lot-codes-13-sick-in-nine-states-8-hospitalized-3-with-hus" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / # Sierra Nevada Cheese Company Recalls All Graziers Raw Milk Cheese for E. coli O26:H11: Every Size, Every UPC, No Lot Codes — 13 Sick in Nine States, 8 Hospitalized, 3 with HUS ![](https://www.ecoliblog.com/files/2026/09/Graziers-4-raw-cheeses-1-656x638.jpg)Sierra Nevada Cheese Company of Willows, California, is recalling every Graziers raw milk cheese — Monterey Jack, Jalapeño Jack, Medium Cheddar and Sharp Cheddar, in 8-ounce squares, 16-ounce bricks, 5-pound loaves and 40-pound blocks, sold nationwide through distributors, retailers and direct customers — because it may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing *E. coli* O26:H11. The company’s announcement is dated September 28, 2026, and [FDA posted it](https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sierra-nevada-cheese-company-recalls-graziers-raw-milk-cheese-because-possible-health-risk) on September 29. There is no lot code, date code or production date to check: if it is Graziers raw milk cheese, it is recalled. Do not eat it, serve it or sell it. Return it for a refund or throw it away. **What is recalled** **Product****Package****UPC / Item**Graziers Raw Milk Monterey Jack8 oz squareUPC 6-87652-16400-9Graziers Raw Milk Jalapeño Jack8 oz squareUPC 6-87652-16403-0Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar8 oz squareUPC 6-87652-16506-8Graziers Raw Milk Sharp Cheddar8 oz squareUPC 6-87652-16507-5Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar16 oz brickUPC 6-87652-16501-3Graziers Raw Milk Monterey Jack loaves5 lb loafItem 6425Graziers Raw Milk Jalapeño Jack loaves5 lb loafItem 6426Graziers Raw Milk Medium Cheddar5 lb loafItem 6510Graziers Raw Milk Sharp Cheddar5 lb loafItem 6511Graziers Raw Milk Cheddar block40 lb blockItems 6515 and 6516The 8-ounce squares and the 16-ounce brick are the retail packages sold in stores and online. The 5-pound loaves and 40-pound blocks went to distributors and food service, and that is where the Graziers label disappears: a 40-pound block of cheddar is cut, wrapped and sold under the store’s own label at delis and cheese counters. If you bought cut raw milk cheddar or jack this summer and cannot tell where it came from, ask the store; if the store cannot tell you, throw it out. **What the company says** The company says it began the recall after FDA contacted it about the outbreak, immediately stopped production and shipment of all Graziers raw milk cheese, notified the customers who bought directly from it, and posted notices on its website and social media. It says the illnesses have been associated with the medium cheddar, but because the investigation has not been narrowed to a specific lot, date code or production date, it is recalling all of it. Questions: (530) 934-8662, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific time, or recallinfo@sierranevadacheese.com. **The outbreak behind the recall** As of [CDC’s September 25 update](https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/raw-milk-cheese-09-26/index.html), 13 people in nine states are infected with the outbreak strain of *E. coli*O26:H11: three each in California and Nevada, and one each in Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah. Eight have been hospitalized, three have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure, and no one has died. More than half of the sick are children 5 or younger. Illnesses began between July 7 and August 26. All nine sick people who have been interviewed reported eating Graziers raw milk cheese. CDC says the true number is likely much higher than 13, because most people are never tested. These cheeses keep for months, so the count is not finished. The first illness began July 7. The recall began September 24, the day [FDA reached the company](https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o26h11-raw-milk-cheese-september-2026) and recommended it; [FDA’s outbreak table](https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks) lists it as initiated September 25. The announcement with the UPCs and item numbers above is dated September 28 and did not appear on FDA’s recall list until September 29. For five days the public record was FDA’s and CDC’s September 25 pages, a social media post and a banner on the company’s website. I wrote about the outbreak [when it was announced](https://www.ecoliblog.com/e-coli-information/e-coli-o26-outbreak-13-sick-in-california-nevada-colorado-georgia-kentucky-michigan-oregon-tennessee-and-utah-8-hospitalized-3-with-hus/), and Marler Clark has since been [retained by the family of a child](https://www.ecoliblog.com/e-coli-information/marler-clark-retained-by-the-family-of-a-child-with-hemolytic-uremic-syndrome-in-the-graziers-raw-milk-cheese-e-coli-o26-outbreak-this-is-what-the-missing-warning-label-costs/) who developed HUS after eating Graziers raw milk cheese. My [draft citizen petition](https://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/raw-milk-cheese-needs-a-warning-label-here-is-the-fda-petition-i-plan-to-file-read-it-and-tell-me-what-i-got-wrong-before-i-do/) asking FDA to require a warning statement on raw milk cheese is posted, and I am still taking comments. **Symptoms, and when to get help** Symptoms of *E. coli* O26 usually begin three to four days after eating contaminated food and can take up to nine days: severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that is often bloody, and vomiting. See a doctor for bloody diarrhea, a fever above 102°F, or diarrhea lasting more than two days. In young children, watch for the [signs of HUS](https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/signs-symptoms/hus.html) — urinating less often, unusual tiredness, and losing the pink color in the cheeks and lower eyelids — and go to the emergency room. Tell the doctor you may have eaten recalled raw milk cheese and ask for a stool culture; [CDC does not recommend antibiotics](https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/treatment/index.html) for suspected Shiga toxin-producing *E. coli* infections. If it is positive, ask that the isolate be kept; sequencing is what ties an illness to this outbreak. **Two questions about this recall** **The deli cut my cheddar from a block and the label only says “raw milk cheddar.” Is it recalled?** It may be. The 40-pound Graziers cheddar blocks (Items 6515 and 6516) and the 5-pound loaves go to distributors and food service, where they are cut and re-wrapped under a store label. Ask the store what brand it was; if you cannot find out, throw it away. **The sharp cheddar says it was aged over 120 days. Is it really recalled?** Yes. All four varieties, in every size, are recalled. The illnesses have been associated with the medium cheddar, but the company cannot identify a lot or a production date, so it pulled everything. Sixty days of aging is the legal minimum for raw milk cheese, not a safety guarantee; [FDA wrote in 2015](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/08/03/2015-18972/understanding-potential-intervention-measures-to-reduce-the-risk-of-foodborne-illness-from) that studies had found *E. coli*O157:H7 surviving 60 days in cheddar. ***E. coli*** *E. coli* O157:H7 is the pathogen that built this firm. In its worst form it produces a Shiga toxin that shuts down the kidneys — hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) — and its victims are too often children. Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading firm for *E. coli* and HUS cases. Our *E. coli* lawyers have stood beside thousands of families in the only U.S. law practice devoted exclusively to foodborne illness, which has recovered more than $850 million for victims and families nationwide. We have traced *E. coli* to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and much more, and we have brought cases against Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s. Among those we have been honored to represent are Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith, and Linda Rivera. Our advocacy has reached beyond the courtroom as well: we helped push the federal government to declare *E. coli* O157:H7 — and later six additional Shiga toxin-producing strains — adulterants in ground beef, and we have funded independent research into the pathogen to push the science forward. If you or a family member developed an *E. coli* infection or HUS after eating contaminated food and you want to understand your legal options, contact the Marler Clark *E. coli* attorneys at 1-800-884-9840 for a free case evaluation. **FAQ** **What is *E. coli*?** *E. coli* O157:H7 is a Shiga toxin-producing strain of *Escherichia coli* that causes severe, sometimes life-threatening food poisoning. Most people develop painful stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea three to four days after exposure, and about 5 to 10 percent of victims — often young children — go on to develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of acute kidney failure. **What foods cause *E. coli* outbreaks?** Ground beef, raw milk, leafy greens such as romaine and spinach, sprouts, unpasteurized juice, and raw flour have all been linked to *E. coli* O157:H7. Any food contaminated with even a trace of cattle feces can carry it. **What is HUS, and is it permanent?** Hemolytic uremic syndrome is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in young children. Many children recover, but some are left with lasting kidney damage, high blood pressure, or neurological injury and need lifelong monitoring. **Can I sue if I got *E. coli* from food?** If a contaminated food caused your infection, you may have a product-liability claim against the manufacturer, grower, or restaurant. The key questions are what you ate and whether your illness is genetically linked to a known outbreak strain. **How long do I have to file an *E. coli* lawsuit?** Filing deadlines (statutes of limitation) vary by state and by the type of injury, and they can run quickly. A free case evaluation is the fastest way to learn where you stand. **Additional Resources** - [About *E. coli*](https://about-ecoli.com/) — a complete online resource on the symptoms and risks of *E. coli* infection - [About HUS](https://about-hus.com/) — a complete online resource on hemolytic uremic syndrome and acute kidney failure - [Marler Clark *E. coli* Lawsuits and Litigation](https://marlerclark.com/food-litigation/e-coli-o157h7-outbreak-litigation) - A downloadable [Family Health Guide](https://marlerclark.com/pdfs/ecoliBrochure.pdf) ### Other E. coli Lawsuits [Sierra Nevada Cheese Company Graziers Raw Milk Cheese E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits](https://marlerclark.com/sierra-nevada-cheese-company-graziers-raw-milk-cheese-e-coli-outbreak-lawsuits) [55 People, in 15 States, Sickened in E.coli and Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Sprouts - Wisconsin and Minnesota Hit Hard](https://marlerclark.com/minnesota-and-wisconsin-e-coli-and-salmonella-outbreak-tied-to-sprouts) [Dungeness Valley 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The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [E. coli Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-food-poisoning) What is E. coli and how does it cause food poisoning? Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a highly studied, common species of bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, so... ###### [E. coli O157:H7](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is the most commonly identified and the most notorious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serotype in... ###### [Non-O157 STEC](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/non-o157-stec) Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can also cause food poisoning. 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