Family Farmstead Dairy, LLC of Worcester, New York, is recalling a specific lot of Family Farmstead Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese after Maryland state testing identified two strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli — O26:H11 and O45:H2 — in samples of the product. The recall was announced October 15, 2026. No illnesses have been reported. The cheese was distributed to grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts, and may have also reached additional states through downstream distributors.
What’s Being Recalled?
The recall covers one specific lot of Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese, 8 oz packages, with lot code 7/22/27 and best-by date July 22, 2027 — the same date printed on the package label. No other Family Farmstead Dairy products are affected. This is the second raw milk cheese recall linked to Shiga toxin-producing E. coli this month — the Sierra Nevada Cheese Company Graziers recall, announced October 2, involved E. coli O26:H11 in a separate brand and facility.
Why Was This Product Recalled?
The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Laboratory for Feed, Fertilizer, and Milk (LFFM) isolated two strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli — O26:H11 and O45:H2 — in two separate samples of the 8 oz package. These are rare but serious pathogens. E. coli O26 is the same strain linked to the Graziers recall earlier this month. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains cause diarrheal illness often involving bloody stools. Most healthy adults recover within a week, but some individuals — especially young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people — can develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening kidney condition that can cause permanent kidney damage or death.
What Should You Do?
Do not eat Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese with lot code and best-by date 7/22/27. Return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or discard it. Contact Family Farmstead Dairy at 607-397-4044, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, or email [email protected].
