Investigators from the Food and Drug Administration have begun an onsite inspection of Raw Farm LLC dairy because it is the likely source of an E. coli outbreak.

The FDA has requested that the Fresno, CA, dairy recall its block and shredded raw milk cheddar cheese, but the dairy owners have refused to do so.  So far seven people have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. They live in California, Texas and Florida. 

Three of the sick people specifically eating Raw Farm raw milk cheddar cheese becoming ill. Four of the patients are children aged 3 and younger. Two of the patients have been hospitalized. The FDA has declared that cheese from the dairy is the most likely cause of the illnesses.

The McAfee family, which owns the dairy, has taken the fight to social media where it is claiming that its products are safe. However, Raw Farm products are not pasteurized — a 15-second heat treatment — to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria.

The congressionalFood Safety Caucus, led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, has asked the FDA to use its authority to force Raw Farm to recall its products, but the agency has not yet done so

The FDA is housed in the Department of Health and Human Services which is under the command of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy is a long-time customer of Raw Farm.

Raw Farm’s products have been linked to several outbreaks in recent years and subject to numerous recalls.