The FDA has classified a recall of Graziers raw milk cheese, made by California-based Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, as Class I, its most serious warning level, following a multistate E. coli outbreak. The recall covers Monterey Jack, jalapeño jack, medium cheddar and sharp cheddar, and the products reached 13 states including Florida. Thirteen people in nine states have been sickened, and more than half of those infected were children age 5 and younger. The company first announced the recall on Sept. 28.
Raw milk products carry a higher bacterial risk than pasteurized ones, which is part of why this outbreak is hitting young children so hard. A Class I classification means there’s a reasonable probability the product will cause serious health problems, so families should take the fridge check seriously rather than waiting for symptoms to show up.
So what do you do? Toss any recalled Graziers cheese or bring it back to the store for a refund. If someone in your household already ate it and develops stomach cramps or diarrhea, contact a doctor and mention the cheese. For our Suncoast retirees, snowbirds and grandparents watching the little ones, this is a two-minute check that matters.
Have you ever discovered a recalled food item in your own kitchen? Tell us how you handled it.
