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Family Farmstead Dairy announced a recall of a specific lot of its raw mild cheddar cheese because it may contain Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26:H11 and O45:H2. The affected product has a lot code and best-by date of 7/22/27; consumers should not eat it and should discard it or return it for a refund. No illnesses have been reported to the company as of the October 15, 2026 announcement.
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 strains O26:H11 and O45:H2, according to a company announcement published by the FDA on October 15, 2026. The company said consumers should not eat the affected product and should discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The recall covers Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese with the lot code 7/22/27 and a best-by date of 7/22/27. The company said no other Family Farmstead Dairy products are included. The announcement does not specify the package size for the recalled product.
The company said the 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, so the distribution area may extend beyond those seven states.
The announcement says the issue was found after a sample collected in Maryland isolated two strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in two samples of Family Farmstead A2 Raw Cheddar in 8-ounce packages bearing the same 7/22/27 date. The company’s recall notice identifies the product being recalled as raw mild cheddar. The FDA’s page describes the notice as a company announcement and says it posts such announcements as a public service; it does not endorse the company or product.
Risks for Consumers and Retailers
The recall concerns a foodborne pathogen that can cause illness and, in some cases, serious complications. The company’s notice says E. coli infection can cause diarrhea, often with bloody stools. While it says most healthy adults recover within a week, some people may develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a form of kidney failure that can result in serious kidney damage or death. The notice identifies young children and older adults as groups more likely to develop HUS.
For consumers, the practical step is to check the product name and date code rather than relying only on where it was purchased. Because the company says the cheese could have reached states beyond its direct grocery distribution through other distributors, consumers outside the named states may also want to check the label. Retailers and distributors may need to identify and remove affected packages from sale; the announcement does not detail those actions.
As of the recall notice, no illnesses or allergic reactions had been reported to the company. That statement reflects the company’s reported status at the time of the announcement; it does not establish that no illness could later be linked to the product.
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How the Recall Was Identified
The FDA posted the company’s announcement on October 15, 2026. Family Farmstead Dairy described it as an update to a press release issued earlier that day, saying the update corrected the product’s distribution pattern and the E. coli serotypes listed.
According to the company, the recall followed testing of samples collected in Maryland. Its notice says two samples of Family Farmstead A2 Raw Cheddar, in 8-ounce packages marked with a 7/22/27 date, were found to contain two Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains. The recall announcement identifies the affected product as Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese with that same lot code and best-by date.
The notice does not provide further details about how the samples were collected, the testing process, or whether the tested samples came from the same production lot being recalled. It also does not state how many packages are affected. Those details are not included in the public announcement provided by the company.
““We sincerely apologize to our customers, retail partners, and consumers for the inconvenience caused by this recall.””
— Family Farmstead Dairy
Distribution and Investigation Details
The company’s notice does not say how many packages were produced or sold, how many remain in stores or consumers’ homes, or exactly which downstream distributors may have handled the cheese. It says the product may have reached other states but does not name them.
The announcement also does not explain whether the two samples were taken from the recalled raw mild cheddar itself or from the separately described A2 Raw Cheddar samples, beyond noting the shared date code. It gives no results from additional testing and no details about the company’s investigation into the source of contamination. The company said no illnesses had been reported to it at the time; whether that status changes is not yet known.
Checking Labels and Company Updates
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. Consumers with questions can contact Family Farmstead Dairy at (607) 397-4044 or customerservice@familyfarmsteaddairy.com. The company lists its customer-service hours as Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.
Consumers should compare the product name and the 7/22/27 lot code and best-by date with the recall notice. The company said it was working to identify the issue and take corrective action, but it did not give a timeline for completing that work or announce a further update. Details about broader distribution, additional testing, and any reported illnesses may change as the company and relevant authorities receive more information.
Key Questions
Which cheese is included in the recall?
The recall covers Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese with lot code 7/22/27 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 recalled cheese?
Do not eat it. The company says to discard the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. For questions, contact the company at (607) 397-4044 or customerservice@familyfarmsteaddairy.com.
Where was the recalled cheese distributed?
The company says it supplied grocers in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts. It also says downstream distributors may have sent the cheese to other states, which are not identified in the notice.
Have any illnesses been reported?
Family Farmstead Dairy said no illnesses had been reported to the company as of its October 15, 2026 announcement. The notice does not confirm whether that status has changed since publication.
Why is E. coli O26:H11 or O45:H2 a concern?
The company’s notice says these Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains can cause diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools. It also warns that some people may develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious kidney condition, with young children and older adults at greater risk.
Source: primary
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