Not Yet Classified U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Sierra Nevada Cheese Graziers RAW Milk Sharp Cheddar recall: Potential contamination due to E. coli O26:H11

Recall published 11 days ago

Potential contamination due to E. coli O26:H11.

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: Potential contamination due to E. coli O26:H11.

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

Recall number
N/A
Published
October 14, 2026
Risk level
Not Yet Classified
Status
Ongoing
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Inc
Product type
Dairy
Units affected
1,373 lbs (40 lbs/unit)
Distribution
Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin
Made in
United States
Lot / code info
Lot: 00116265; 00310265; 00317261; 00512264; 00923252; 00926251; 01002251; 01010252; 01021251; 01031254; 01107253; 01205254; 01230254.

Products covered by this recall

SIERRA NEVADA CHEESE GRAZIERS RAW MILK SHARP CHEDDAR NET WT. 40 LBS Item 6516

Check your product

The notice names 4 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • 00116265

Model or item number

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

  • 6516 — Lot

Package size

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

  • 40 LBS
  • 373 lbs

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Food & cosmetics enforcement notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about E. coli

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Inc — 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. If anyone has bloody diarrhoea, call a doctor the same day and say the word recall. Do not reach for an anti-diarrhoeal first.
  3. Keep an eye on young children for a week after exposure, including after the diarrhoea stops, because kidney complications appear late.
  4. Seal it in a bag and throw it out, or return it to the store for a refund.

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.

Company contact: Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Inc — 6505 County Road 39, Willows, CA, 95988-9709

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 — Food & cosmetics enforcement record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Inc dairy recalled?

Potential contamination due to E. coli O26:H11. Potential contamination due to E. coli O26:H11.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: lot code 00116265; model number 6516 — Lot. 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?

A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, Washington and others.

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