Overview
- The FDA and CDC update Thursday raised the case count to nine across California, Florida, and Texas, up from seven earlier in March.
- More than half of those sick are children under 5, three people were hospitalized, and one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a kidney-threatening complication.
- Investigators reported that patient samples share closely related E. coli O157:H7 genomes, and seven of eight interviewed people consumed Raw Farm products, mostly its raw cheddar.
- No Raw Farm product has tested positive so far, and the company declined a voluntary recall, with its president saying he wants direct proof while citing internal retail tests that found no contamination.
- Health agencies advise throwing out Raw Farm block and shredded raw cheddar and cleaning any tools or surfaces that touched it, as states issue warnings and lawmakers urge stronger FDA action on a product type that carries higher risk because it is not pasteurized.