San Diego County public health officials are urging people not to eat Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese after county epidemiologists linked the product to a multi‑state Shiga toxin‑producing E. coli outbreak that has sickened two people in San Diego County.

Sierra Nevada Graziers initiated a voluntary recall on Sept. 24 for its grass‑fed raw milk cheeses, including medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack and Monterey jack; the company sold the cheeses in 8‑oz and 16‑oz retail packages and in 5‑pound loaves to food service customers or wholesalers, the county said.

The county said investigators have identified 13 cases across 10 states: three each in California and Nevada, and single cases in Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Michigan; the county said two of California’s three cases were San Diego County children under 5 and that the average age of the 13 cases is 5 years.

The county recommended that anyone who has the recalled cheese discard it and that people clean and sanitize all surfaces and utensils that may have contacted the product, using hot, soapy water; it also advised seeking medical attention immediately for symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal cramps or signs of dehydration, because E. coli infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition that can cause kidney failure, the county said.

"We are deeply grateful for the rigorous work of our epidemiology team, whose swift detection helped bring this recall to light," said County Public Health Officer Sayone Thihalolipavan, MD, MPH. "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."

The county said it has shared information about the recalled products with local retailers.

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County of San Diego

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