DETROIT – Several people were infected with E. coli after eating unpasteurized milk cheese made by a brand sold nationwide, health officials reported last week.
Raw cheddar cheese produced by brand RAW FARM is linked to at least 10 E. coli infections out of four states in the western U.S. -- though the CDC says the “true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported.” Of those 10 illnesses reported, four people were hospitalized and one person developed hemolytic uretic syndrome, which can cause kidney failure.
The reported illnesses are out of California, Utah, Colorado and Texas, but the brand RAW FARM sells products throughout the country, including here in Michigan. The California-based company produces milk and milk products, like cheese, that are raw -- meaning they have not been sterilized to kill off harmful bacteria in a process called pasteurization.
It is illegal to sell unpasteurized milk to consumers in the state of Michigan, which was the first state to make milk pasteurization a requirement before the products could be sold. Unpasteurized, or “raw,” milk and milk products can carry germs like campylobacter, cryptosporidium, E. coli, listeria, brucella, and salmonella, which can lead to harmful illnesses.
The CDC says raw milk is one of the riskiest foods to consume.
The “find a store” map on RAW FARM’s website shows its products are sold in several stores -- primarily Better Health stores -- across Metro Detroit. According to the map, most of the stores carried a product called “truly raw cheese,” though some also sold the raw cheddar cheese flagged by the government.
People are being urged not to buy, eat or serve RAW FARM’s raw cheddar cheese due to the E. coli outbreak. Businesses are being told not to sell the products, either. Officials say RAW FARM has agreed to recall the products and is working with the FDA.
Anyone who purchased the raw cheddar cheese is urged not to eat it, and to wash any surfaces or containers that may have touched the contaminated food. The products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
If you have E. coli symptoms, be sure to contact your doctor right away.
Click here to learn more about the E. coli outbreak linked to raw cheddar cheese.
What are E. coli symptoms?
Here are the symptoms to watch out for, as written by the CDC:
- Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving.
- Bloody diarrhea.
- So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down.
- Severe stomach cramps.
- Signs of dehydration, such as: Not peeing much; Dry mouth and throat; Feeling dizzy when standing up.
- Feeling very tired.
- Losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids.
Symptoms typically begin three or four days after the bacteria was consumed. Though the bacteria can lead to serious illnesses, most people recover without treatment after five to seven days, the CDC says.