Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Family Farmstead Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese recall: Potential to be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E

Recall published 13 days ago

Potential to be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. Coli O26:H11 and O45:H2)

Family Farmstead Dairy — recalled dairyFamily Farmstead Dairy — recalled dairy (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: E. coli contamination

The hazard here is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli — the strain family behind the bloody-diarrhoea outbreaks, and the reason this notice is worth acting on today rather than at the weekend.

What the notice says: The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

Why it matters: Shiga toxin-producing E. coli causes a more severe illness than most food poisoning, and in a minority of cases it damages the kidneys. Very small numbers of bacteria are enough to make someone ill.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC describes symptoms as severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea that is often bloody, and vomiting, typically starting three to four days after exposure. Most people get better within a week. A small proportion — most often young children and older adults — develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a form of kidney failure that needs hospital treatment. Call a doctor for bloody diarrhoea, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, a fever above 102°F, vomiting that prevents you keeping liquids down, or signs of dehydration. The CDC advises against taking anti-diarrhoeal medicine for a suspected E. coli infection unless a doctor tells you to.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
October 15, 2026
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Family Farmstead
Product type
Dairy
Reports of harm
No illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported to date.

Products covered by this recall

Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese

What the company announced

“This is an update to the company’s press release, previously issued on 10/15/2026, to correct the distribution pattern and serotype of E. coli”

WORCESTER, NY, October 15, 2026 - Family Farmstead Dairy of Worcester, NY is recalling specific lot of cheddar cheese because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O26:H11 and O45:H2 ( E. Coli O26:H11 and O45:H2 ). E. coli O26:H11 and O45:H2 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death. Product to grocers in NY, PA, NJ, CT, MD, VA, and MA . But the product may also have been distributed to other states via downstream distributors.

Affected Product

Product: Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese

Lot Code: 7/22/27

Best By Date: 7/22/27

No other Family Farmstead Dairy products are included in this recall.

No illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported to date.

The issue was discovered when a LFFM sample in Maryland isolated two strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in two samples of Family Farmstead A2 Raw Cheddar, 8 oz package, 7/22/27.

Consumer Information

Consumers who have purchased the affected product should not consume it. The product should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.

At this time, Family Farmstead Dairy has received no reports of illness associated with the recalled product.

Consumer Contact Information

Consumers with questions regarding this recall may contact:

Family Farmstead Dairy

Phone: (607) 397-4044

Email: [email protected]

8:30am-5:00pm Easterm, Mon-Fri.

"We sincerely apologize to our customers, retail partners, and consumers for the inconvenience caused by this recall. Product quality is an utmost priority here at Family Farmstead so we are committed to identifying the cause of this issue and taking all necessary corrective actions to ensure the continued safety and quality of our products."

About Family Farmstead Dairy

Family Farmstead Dairy is a New York-based dairy processor dedicated to producing high-quality dairy products while maintaining rigorous food safety and quality standards.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 7 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Model or item number

On the rating label, the box or the instruction sheet.

  • PA
  • NJ
  • CT
  • MD
  • VA
  • MA . But

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 8 oz

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about E. coli

Family Farmstead — The hazard here is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli — the strain family behind the bloody-diarrhoea outbreaks, and the reason this notice is worth acting on today rather than at the weekend.

  1. Stop eating it now and keep it away from children.
  2. Seal it in a bag and throw it out, or return it to the store for a refund.
  3. Wash hands, utensils, boards and counters that touched it with hot soapy water — cross-contamination is how most secondary cases happen.
  4. If anyone has bloody diarrhoea, call a doctor the same day and say the word recall. Do not reach for an anti-diarrhoeal first.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Remedy named in the notice: The product should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: Family Farmstead Dairy, LLC — Consumers: (607) 397-4044, [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Family Farmstead dairy recalled?

Potential to be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. Coli O26:H11 and O45:H2) The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: model number PA, NJ, CT. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating it now and keep it away from children.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: The product should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.

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