Twin Sisters Creamery Whatcom Blue, Farmhouse, Peppercorn and Mustard Seed cheese recall: Potential Foodborne Illness - Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)
Potential Foodborne Illness - Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Escherichia coli O103
The hazard: E. coli contamination
E. coli O157 and its relatives are what this recall is about. The infection is more severe than ordinary food poisoning and can affect the kidneys in children.
What the notice says: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
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 25, 2025
- Risk level
- Highest risk
- Issued by
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Brand
- Twin Sisters Creamery
- Product type
- Dairy
- Distribution
- Oregon, Washington
Products covered by this recall
Whatcom Blue, Farmhouse, Peppercorn and Mustard Seed cheese products
What the company announced
October 25, 2025, Twin Sisters Creamery of Ferndale, Washington is voluntarily recalling Whatcom Blue, Farmhouse, Peppercorn and Mustard Seed cheese products, which were made from raw and unpasteurized milk and aged at least 60 days, because it may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Escherichia coli O103 .>
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
E. coli O103 is an organism that can cause severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting, with symptoms typically appearing 1-10 days after exposure. It can lead to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that causes kidney failure, particularly dangerous in young children, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised persons. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and potentially fatal complications.
Between 7/27/25 and 10/22/25, the affected 2.5lb. round cheese wheels of Whatcom Blue, Farmhouse, Peppercorn and Mustard Seed cheese products were shipped to distributors in Oregon and Washington. Products may have been further distributed to retail stores for repacking or sold as pre-cut into ½ moon shaped pieces with different lot numbers or expiration dates.
The affected 2.5lb round cheese wheels of Whatcom Blue, Farmhouse, Peppercorn and Mustard Seed have the following batch codes:
Batch Code 250527B Whatcom Blue
Batch Code 250610B Whatcom Blue
Batch Code 250618B Whatcom Blue
Batch Code 250624B Whatcom Blue
Batch Code 250603F Farmhouse
Batch Code 250616B Farmhouse
Batch Code 250603P Peppercorn
Batch Code 250616M Mustard Seed
There have been three reports of STEC infections caused by E. coli O103 in OR and WA to date. The case in Oregon consumed the Twin Sisters Creamery Farmhouse cheese prior to becoming ill.
The recall was initiated after Twin Sisters Creamery was notified that the Farmhouse cheese sample analyzed by a third-party lab confirmed presence of E. coli O103 and E. Coli STEC was detected in Whatcom Blue samples analyzed by WSDA and FDA.
The recalled products should no longer be available for purchase but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. If consumers still have recalled products in your home, do not eat or use them, throw them away, and clean and sanitize surfaces they touched. Consumers concerned about an illness should contact a medical professional.
Consumers who purchased Twin Sisters cheese are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Twin Sisters Creamery at 360-656-5240 Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-5:00pm PT.
This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Washington Department of Agriculture.
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 8 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.
- 250610B
- 250618B
- 250624B
- 250603F
- 250616B
- 250603P
- 250616M
Package size
Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.
- 2.5 lb
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
Twin Sisters Creamery — E. coli O157 and its relatives are what this recall is about. The infection is more severe than ordinary food poisoning and can affect the kidneys in children.
- Stop eating it now and keep it away from children.
- If anyone has bloody diarrhoea, call a doctor the same day and say the word recall. Do not reach for an anti-diarrhoeal first.
- Keep an eye on young children for a week after exposure, including after the diarrhoea stops, because kidney complications appear late.
- Seal it in a bag and throw it out, or return it to the store for a refund.
Refunds, and what else you can claim
The purchase price is the floor, not the ceiling. Where a recall caused you a real cost, say so.
- Claim the refund at the store first; it is the fastest route and needs the least paperwork.
- If you bought several packs over time, list them. Firms routinely settle for more than a single unit when a customer asks.
- Medical costs, lost earnings or a spoiled event are not handled at the service desk. Write to the company contact on this page instead, with dates and documents.
- Keep copies of everything you send. If a recall caused harm, that file is what any later claim rests on.
Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who purchased Twin Sisters cheese are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Company contact: Twin Sisters Creamery, Inc. — Consumers: (360) 656-5240
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 Twin Sisters Creamery dairy recalled?
Potential Foodborne Illness - Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Escherichia coli O103 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
How do I know if I have the recalled product?
Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: lot code 250610B, 250618B, 250624B. 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: Consumers who purchased Twin Sisters cheese are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Which states were affected?
The notice lists Oregon, Washington.
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