TL;DR
Get kitchen gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Family Farmstead Dairy recalled 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 announcement says no illnesses have been reported; consumers should not eat the cheese and can discard it or return it for a refund.
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 O26:H11 and O45:H2, according to a company announcement posted by the FDA on October 15, 2026. The FDA notice says no illnesses have been reported to date, but consumers who have the affected cheese should not eat it.
The recalled product is labeled Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese and carries lot code 7/22/27, which is also the listed best-by date. The company says no other Family Farmstead Dairy products are part of this recall. Consumers should discard the affected cheese 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 said the product may have reached additional states through downstream distributors, so the full distribution footprint is not confirmed in the announcement. The recall notice identifies the hazard as potential contamination with two strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
The FDA’s posting identifies the notice as a company announcement and says the agency posts such announcements as a public service; it does not endorse the product or company. The announcement states that the issue was discovered after a Maryland LFFM sample isolated two STEC strains in two samples of Family Farmstead A2 Raw Cheddar in 8-ounce packages bearing the same date. The release describes that test finding as the trigger for the recall, while the product listed for recall is raw mild cheddar.
Health Risks and Consumer Action
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can cause diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools, according to the company’s announcement. Many healthy adults recover within about a week, but some infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure. The company says young children and older adults are more likely to develop HUS, which can cause serious kidney damage and may be fatal.
The practical concern is that the cheese is a ready-to-eat food: consumers do not have a cooking step that would reliably address the risk before eating it. Anyone who bought the product should check the package for the lot code and best-by date, avoid consuming it if it matches, and follow the discard-or-return instructions. The announcement does not report known illnesses, but it also does not establish that every package in the lot is contaminated.
People who have eaten the recalled cheese and become ill should contact a health care provider, particularly if symptoms are severe or include bloody diarrhea. The recall notice does not provide a symptom-monitoring period or individualized medical guidance; those questions should be directed to a clinician or public health authority.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Recall Was Identified
The FDA published the announcement on October 15, 2026, the same date listed for the company’s recall announcement. The company characterized its notice as an update to a release issued earlier that day, saying it was correcting the distribution pattern and E. coli serotype. That makes the updated distribution details and the two named serotypes the current information provided in the FDA posting.
The company says testing found Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in two samples collected in Maryland. The source describes these as samples of Family Farmstead A2 Raw Cheddar, 8 ounces, with the date 7/22/27, while the recalled product description names raw mild cheddar. The announcement does not explain the relationship between those product descriptions or provide further detail on the sampling and testing process.
Family Farmstead Dairy is based in Worcester, New York. The FDA’s role in this posting is to make the company’s announcement public; the source does not say that FDA independently confirmed the test results or issued a separate agency finding.
“We sincerely apologize to our customers, retail partners, and consumers for the inconvenience caused by this recall.”
— Family Farmstead Dairy, in its company announcement
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Distribution and Testing Questions
The notice does not identify how many packages are affected, how much product was distributed, or which retailers received it. It lists seven states where grocers were supplied but warns that downstream distributors may have sent the cheese elsewhere. Consumers outside those states therefore cannot assume the product was not sold in their area.
Some details also remain unclear in the announcement: it refers to two samples of A2 raw cheddar as the source of the finding, but lists raw mild cheddar as the recalled product. It does not give additional information on the testing laboratory, the specific sample collection process, or whether the company or regulators have confirmed contamination in products available for sale.
The company reports no illnesses or allergic reactions to date. That is the status stated in the announcement, not a guarantee that no cases will emerge. The release also does not report a completed investigation, the cause of the possible contamination, or the corrective steps taken so far.
cheese slicer for blocks of cheese
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Recall Checks and Company Follow-Up
Consumers should compare the package against the listed product and 7/22/27 lot code and best-by date. If it matches, do not eat it; discard it or return it to the retailer for a full refund. The company says consumers can contact Family Farmstead Dairy at (607) 397-4044 or customerservice@familyfarmsteaddairy.com, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.
Family Farmstead Dairy says it is working to identify the cause and take corrective actions, but it has not provided a timeline or further detail in the notice. Retailers and distributors may be able to clarify whether the product was sold locally, especially in areas beyond the seven states named. Updates to the recall or distribution information may be needed if the company’s investigation identifies additional affected locations or products.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Which cheese is included in the recall?
Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese with lot code and best-by date 7/22/27 is listed. The company says no other Family Farmstead Dairy products are included.
Where was the recalled cheese distributed?
The company says it supplied grocers in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts. It warns that downstream distributors may have sent product to other states.
What should I do if I bought the affected cheese?
Do not eat it. The company says to discard the cheese or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Contact the company with questions at (607) 397-4044 or customerservice@familyfarmsteaddairy.com.
Have any illnesses been reported?
The company’s announcement says no illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported to date. That is the status as of the October 15, 2026 notice; the announcement does not rule out later reports.
Why is E. coli O26:H11 and O45:H2 a concern?
The company says these Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains can cause diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools. Some people can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious kidney condition, with higher risk among young children and older adults.
Source: primary
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
