TL;DR
Get kitchen staples and gadgets 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 announced a recall of specific lots of its raw mild cheddar cheese because of possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26:H11 and O45:H2. The FDA posted the company announcement on Oct. 15, 2026; no illnesses or allergic reactions had been reported at that time. Consumers should not eat the affected product 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 contain Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains O26:H11 and O45:H2, according to a company announcement posted by the FDA on Oct. 15, 2026. The affected product is marked with lot code and best-by date 7/22/27; the company said no illnesses or allergic reactions had been reported when it issued the notice.
The recall covers Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese bearing the lot code 7/22/27 and best-by date 7/22/27. The company said no other Family Farmstead Dairy products are included. Consumers who have the affected cheese should not eat it. The company advises discarding it or returning it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
According to the announcement, the issue came to light after a sample collected in Maryland by LFFM isolated two strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in two samples of Family Farmstead A2 Raw Cheddar, an 8-ounce product marked 7/22/27. The recall notice identifies the product being recalled as raw mild cheddar. It does not explain further how the tested A2 raw cheddar samples relate to the recalled product description.
The company said the recalled cheese was supplied to grocers in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts. It also warned that downstream distributors may have sent the product to other states. Consumers outside those listed states should check the product label rather than assume the cheese was not distributed in their area.
Risk From Raw Cheddar
The recall concerns a potential exposure to Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which can cause diarrheal illness and may lead to more serious complications. The company announcement says symptoms can include bloody stools. It also warns that some people may develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure that can cause serious kidney damage and, in severe cases, death.
The notice identifies young children and older adults as groups more likely to develop HUS. The practical step for anyone who purchased the affected lot is to avoid eating it, even if it looks or smells normal, and follow the stated disposal or refund instructions. The announcement does not report illnesses linked to the cheese, but that status reflects the information available to the company at the time of the notice.
Distribution beyond the seven named states is possible through downstream distributors, according to the company. That caveat matters for shoppers and retailers because the listed states may not capture every location where the lot could have been offered.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Recall Was Identified
The FDA page describes this as a company announcement posted as a public service. It says the agency does not endorse the product or company. The notice is dated Oct. 15, 2026, and says it updates a company press release issued on that same date to correct the distribution pattern and the E. coli serotypes identified.
The company’s announcement says the finding followed laboratory testing of samples in Maryland. It refers to two samples of A2 raw cheddar in which two Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains were isolated. The recall information provided by the company is limited to the named cheese lot; it states that other Family Farmstead Dairy products are not part of the recall.
Raw milk cheese is made without the pasteurization step used to reduce certain harmful bacteria in milk. The recall notice does not provide production details or explain the source of the possible contamination. Its immediate guidance is product-specific: check for lot code 7/22/27 and do not consume a matching package.
““We sincerely apologize to our customers, retail partners, and consumers for the inconvenience caused by this recall.””
— Family Farmstead Dairy
cheddar cheese with lot code 7/22/27
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Distribution and Testing Questions
The announcement does not identify the number of packages distributed, the dates or quantities shipped, or the complete list of retailers and downstream distributors. It names seven states but says the product may have reached other states, leaving the full distribution footprint unclear.
It also does not explain why the testing description refers to A2 Raw Cheddar samples while the recalled product is described as raw mild cheddar, or provide additional laboratory details about the samples. The source does not say whether the company or regulators have confirmed contamination in the recalled packages themselves. No illnesses or allergic reactions had been reported to the company as of the announcement; that does not establish that no cases could emerge later.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Consumer and Company Steps
Consumers should check the package for lot code 7/22/27 and avoid eating any matching product. It may be discarded or returned to the place of purchase for a full refund, according to Family Farmstead Dairy. The company listed (607) 397-4044 and customerservice@familyfarmsteaddairy.com for questions; its stated phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.
Family Farmstead Dairy said it was working to identify the cause and take corrective actions. The announcement did not give a timeline for that work or specify whether additional products or distribution information would be announced. Consumers and retailers can watch for updates from the company and FDA, particularly if further details clarify the distribution area or the testing findings.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Which cheese is included in the recall?
The recall covers Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese with lot code and best-by date 7/22/27. The company says no other Family Farmstead Dairy products are included.
What should I do if I have the affected cheese?
Do not eat it. The company says to discard the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Contact Family Farmstead Dairy at (607) 397-4044 or customerservice@familyfarmsteaddairy.com with questions.
Where was the recalled cheese distributed?
The company named grocers in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts. It said downstream distributors may have sent the product to other states, so the full distribution area is not known from the announcement.
Have illnesses been reported?
Family Farmstead Dairy said no illnesses or allergic reactions had been reported as of its Oct. 15, 2026 announcement. The notice does not provide later case information.
Why was the cheese recalled?
The company said the product may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26:H11 and O45:H2. The announcement says testing in Maryland found two strains in samples of an A2 raw cheddar product marked with the same date, but it does not provide further detail about the relationship between those samples and the recalled product description.
Source: primary
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
