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Family Farmstead Dairy is recalling a specific lot of its raw mild cheddar cheese because it may contain Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26:H11 and O45:H2. The FDA-posted company notice says the product went to retailers in seven states and may have reached others through distributors; no illnesses had been reported as of the October 15 announcement.
Family Farmstead Dairy is recalling a specific lot of its raw mild cheddar cheese because it may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains O26:H11 and O45:H2, according to a company announcement posted by the FDA on October 15, 2026. The notice identifies a best-by date and lot code of July 22, 2027, and says the cheese was distributed to grocers in seven states, with possible distribution elsewhere through downstream distributors.
The affected product is labeled Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese. The company lists the lot code and best-by date as 7/22/27. The recall notice does not identify other Family Farmstead Dairy products as affected. Consumers who bought the listed cheese are advised not to eat it; they can discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The company said the cheese was supplied to grocers in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts. It also cautioned that downstream distributors may have sent the product to additional states. The notice does not provide a complete list of retailers or a total number of units distributed, so consumers may need to check the product details with the store where they shop.
The announcement says the issue came to light after a sample associated with a Maryland farmers market isolated two strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in two samples of Family Farmstead A2 Raw Cheddar in 8-ounce packages bearing the same date. The recall describes the affected item as raw mild cheddar. The company said no illnesses or allergic reactions had been reported at the time of the announcement. The FDA’s page describes this as a company announcement posted as a public service and says the agency does not endorse the company or product.
Why Raw Cheese Is Being Recalled
The recall matters because Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can cause diarrheal illness, sometimes with bloody stools, according to the company’s notice. While many healthy adults recover within about a week, the announcement warns that some infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a form of kidney failure. It says young children and older adults are most likely to develop HUS, which can cause serious kidney damage and may be fatal.
The practical concern is that the product may still be in household refrigerators or on store shelves, including in states beyond those named in the initial distribution description. Anyone who identifies the Family Farmstead label and 7/22/27 code should follow the recall instructions rather than eat the cheese. The company’s report of no illnesses is a status update, not confirmation that the product is free of risk or that no additional cases could emerge.
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How Testing Led to the Recall
The FDA posted the notice on October 15, 2026, the same date given for the company announcement. The company described the notice as an update to an earlier press release issued that day, saying it corrected the distribution pattern and the E. coli serotype information. This means the published recall details reflect a revision, and readers should use the corrected notice rather than rely on earlier versions.
According to the announcement, the finding followed testing of samples connected to a Maryland farmers market. The company says two samples of its A2 raw cheddar, sold in 8-ounce packages with a 7/22/27 date, contained two Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains. The notice does not explain the precise relationship between those tested samples and the recalled raw mild cheddar lot, beyond identifying the same date code. It also does not provide laboratory reports or describe the full investigation.
The FDA’s role, as stated on the page, was to publish the company’s announcement for public information. The recall notice therefore attributes the product details, testing account and consumer instructions to Family Farmstead Dairy; publication by FDA should not be read as agency endorsement.
“We sincerely apologize to our customers, retail partners, and consumers for the inconvenience caused by this recall.”
— Family Farmstead Dairy
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Distribution and Investigation Details
The company’s notice does not name specific stores, say how many packages were distributed, or confirm which additional states may have received the cheese through downstream distributors. It is also unclear whether all packages with the listed date code have been removed from sale and how many consumers may have purchased them.
The announcement says two samples tested positive for the two E. coli strains but does not include the laboratory’s full findings or describe whether the testing established contamination throughout the recalled lot. It does not report any illnesses linked to the cheese as of October 15, 2026. That status could change if consumers or health authorities report cases later. The company said the cause remained under investigation and did not give a timetable for completing that work.
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Consumer Checks and Company Response
Consumers should check raw mild cheddar packaging for the Family Farmstead Dairy name and 7/22/27 code. If the product matches, the company says not to consume it and to discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. People who are uncertain whether their package is included can contact the dairy at (607) 397-4044 or customerservice@familyfarmsteaddairy.com. The company lists customer-service hours as 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday.
Family Farmstead Dairy said it would investigate the cause and take corrective action, but it did not announce a completion date or detail the measures planned. The notice also provides no schedule for additional FDA updates. Consumers and retailers should refer to the company or FDA recall page for any revised distribution information, expanded product details or changes to the illness status.
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Key Questions
Which cheese is included in the recall?
The notice lists Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese with lot code and best-by date 7/22/27. It says no other Family Farmstead Dairy products are included.
Where was the recalled cheese sold?
The company says it supplied grocers in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts. It warns that distributors may have sent the product to other states, but does not provide a full retailer list.
What should consumers do with the cheese?
Do not eat it. The company advises consumers to discard the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Have any illnesses been reported?
Family Farmstead Dairy said no illnesses or allergic reactions had been reported when it issued the October 15, 2026 announcement. The notice does not establish whether that status has changed since publication.
How can consumers contact the company?
Consumers can call (607) 397-4044 or email customerservice@familyfarmsteaddairy.com. The company lists phone hours as 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday.
Source: primary
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