One Oregon resident is among 13 people sickened in a multistate E. coli outbreak linked to Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese, federal health officials announced Friday, Sept. 25.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the outbreak spans nine states and has hospitalized eight people. Three developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious form of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

More than half of those sickened are children 5 or younger. Ages range from 1 to 58, with a median age of 5, according to the FDA's outbreak investigation page.

What's recalled

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, based in Willows, California, recalled all Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheeses on Thursday, Sept. 24, after the FDA notified the company of the outbreak. Four varieties are affected: medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack and Monterey jack.

The recall covers 8-ounce packages, 16-ounce packages and 5-pound loaves sold to retailers nationwide and online. There are no specific lot codes or date codes to check. Every package is recalled.

The 5-pound loaves were also sold to delis and food-service customers, who may have cut and repackaged the cheese under store labels. The FDA said consumers who bought cut raw milk cheddar or jack from a deli counter during summer 2026 and cannot identify its origin should throw it away.

What to do

The FDA advises residents to check refrigerators and freezers. The cheese has a long shelf life and may still be in homes. Throw it away or return it for a refund. Wash any surfaces or containers that touched the cheese with hot, soapy water or run them through a dishwasher.

If cheese was stored without its original packaging and cannot be identified, throw it away.

The CDC's outbreak page notes that choosing pasteurized dairy products is especially important for children under 5.

"Raw milk products like unpasteurized cheese can carry dangerous bacteria, including Shiga toxin-producing E. coli," said Sayone Thihalolipavan, San Diego County's public health officer. "These infections can cause severe illness, especially in young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems."

Symptoms to watch for

The outbreak strain is E. coli O26:H11, a Shiga toxin-producing bacteria. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that is often bloody, and vomiting. They can begin a few days to nine days after eating contaminated food, according to the FDA.

Investigation ongoing

The FDA said its investigation into the source of contamination is ongoing as of Sept. 25. The company said in a statement that illnesses have been associated with its medium cheddar product but that it recalled all four varieties because the investigation has not narrowed to a specific lot or date code, as first reported by KGW.

No Oregon-specific details, including the patient's county, age or hospitalization status, have been released by state health officials.

The FDA said it will update its outbreak page as the investigation continues.