Raw cheese recalled after E. coli outbreak. What is raw cheese? Where is it sold in Florida?

UPDATE 02/29/24: There have now been a total of 11 confirmed infections from five states.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli that's potentially linked to raw cheese.

As of Feb. 28, 11 people have been confirmed as infected, including four in California, three in Colorado, two in Utah and one each in New Jersey and Texas, according to the FDA. Five people have been hospitalized and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. No deaths have been reported, the FDA said.

Recalled samples tested have not detected E. Coli, but the FDA reports that epidemiologic evidence indicates the likely source was probably Raw Farm-brand Raw Cheddar cheese made by Raw Farm LLC of Fresno, California. The company, which sells nationwide, voluntarily recalled certain lots of the products from Feb. 16 to the 26th.

Which raw cheese products were recalled for possible E. coli contamination?

Raw Farm Raw Cheddar blocks and shredded cheese products, both Original Flavor and added Jalapeño Flavor

What states were affected by the raw cheese E. coli outbreak?

So far five states have been affected in the E. coli outbreak, according to the FDA. The products are sold nationwide.

• California: 4 infections

• Colorado: 3 infections

• Utah: 2 infections

• New Jersey: 1 infection

• Texas: 1 infection

Do Florida stores carry Raw Farm Raw Cheddar?

According to Raw Farm USA's location map, Raw Farm products are sold in nearly 50 locations in Florida, at the following stores:

• Chamberlin's

• Earth Origins Market

• Sprouts Farmers Market

Note that this is not the same as the Rizo-López Foods recall earlier this month of cheese, queso, crema, yogurt, and sour cream that may have been contaminated with listeria.

What should I do if I have Raw Farms raw cheese or have eaten some?

If you have some in your refrigerator or freezer, throw the product away. Do not eat eat, sell, or serve Raw Farm-brand Raw Cheddar cheese products. If you have purchased it in the past and have any cheese in your refrigerator or freezer without the original packaging and can’t identify the brand, throw it away, the FDA says.

Consumers, stores and restaurants that have had Raw Farm-brand Raw Cheddar cheese, including wholesale products, should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched. The FDA provides safe handling and clean advice on how to do that to reduce the risk of E. coli cross-contamination.

If you have eaten any Raw Farm cheddar cheese products and think you may have gotten contaminated or had symptoms of E. coli infection should contact your health care provider.

What is raw cheese? What is raw milk?

Raw cheese is cheese made from raw milk.

Raw milk is simply milk that has not been pasteurized (heated to a sufficiently high temperature) to kill harmful bacteria. Some Americans prefer unpasteurized milk, citing factors such as taste and nutritional and health benefits.

However, milk is an excellent medium if you want bacteria. Raw milk and products made from raw milk, including cheese, ice cream, and yogurt, can be contaminated with germs from the animals, their waste or their environment such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria which can cause serious illness, hospitalization, or death.

"In fact, raw milk is one of the riskiest foods," according to the Centers for Disease Control. "Raw milk can be contaminated with harmful germs that can make you very sick."

Consuming raw milk can lead to days of diarrhea, stomach cramping, and vomiting, the CDC said. Some people may develop severe or life-threatening diseases, including:

• Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can cause paralysis.

• Hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can result in kidney failure, stroke, and even death.

• Bovine tuberculosis, which can cause infections in the chest, lungs, kidney, spine and brain.

Illnesses caused by bacteria from raw milk "can be especially problematic for infants, young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised," according to the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration. Between 1987 to September 2010, the FDA found at least 133 reported outbreaks from the consumption of raw milk and raw milk products, leading to 2,659 cases of illnesses, 269 hospitalizations, 3 deaths, 6 stillbirths and 2 miscarriages.

Is raw milk dangerous? Growing trend looks again at unpasteurized milk

Is raw cheese legal in Florida?

Cheese made from raw milk may be sold retail to the final customer or food service establishments in Florida but only if the cheese is aged more than 60 days at a temperature above 35 degrees, according to Florida Statute 502.091(1).

It isn't illegal to drink raw milk here, but it is illegal for anyone to sell anything besides Grade A pasteurized milk and milk products for human consumption. Raw milk may be sold as pet food from farms, markets and health stores provided it is labeled "not for human consumption."

What is E. coli or Escherichia coli?

Escherichia coli (usually referred to as E. coli) are a large and diverse group of bacteria. Most of them are harmless, and everyone already has some in their intestinal tract. But certain types of E. coli, if ingested, can cause mild to life-threatening gastrointestinal illnesses, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia.

E. coli is most often spread when food or drinks are contaminated with human or animal feces, usually invisible, which can happen at any step of the preparation process or from swallowing lake water, petting zoos and other animal exhibits, or even just eating food prepared by someone who didn't wash their hands in the bathroom.

"Unfortunately, this happens more often than we would like to think about," the CDC said.

Other kinds of E. coli are used as markers for water contamination in natural or drinking water. They're not harmful themselves, but they do indicate the water is contaminated.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Raw cheese recall: Raw Farm products pulled after E. coli outbreak