Children sickened in E. coli outbreak linked to recalled raw milk cheese

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San Diego County health officials are warning residents not to eat raw-milk cheese from a Northern California company after it was linked to a multistate E. coli outbreak.

The warning came after two children under the age of five in San Diego County became sick, helping local epidemiologists identify a wider outbreak linked to cheese made by Sierra Nevada Graziers.

The company voluntarily recalled several varieties of its grass-fed raw milk cheese Thursday, including medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack and Monterey jack.

The affected products were sold in 8-ounce and 16-ounce packages, as well as 5-pound loaves distributed to wholesalers and food service customers.

At least 13 cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli have been confirmed across 10 states, including three each in California and Nevada and one each in Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Michigan.

The average age of those infected is just five years old, according to health officials.

San Diego County Public Health Officer Sayone Thihalolipavan credited local epidemiologists with helping uncover the outbreak.

“We are deeply grateful for the rigorous work of our epidemiology team, whose swift detection helped bring this recall to light,” Thihalolipavan said.

“Raw milk products like unpasteurized cheese can carry dangerous bacteria, including Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. These infections can cause severe illness, especially in young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.”

E. coli infections can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. In serious cases, infections can develop into hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause kidney failure.

Health officials said they distributed recall information to local retailers and urged anyone who purchased the affected cheese to throw it away immediately.