The congressional Food Safety Caucus is asking the FDA to exercise its authority and force Raw Farm LLC to recall its raw milk cheddar cheese because it has been linked to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.
Among those members of Congress making the request are Representatives Rosa DeLauro, CT, Sanford D. Bishop Jr., GA, Jan Schakowsky, IL, Chellie Pingree, ME,André Carson, IN, Alma Adams, NC, Mike Quigley, IL, Seth Moulton, MA, Grace Meng, NY, and Mark Takano, CA. They released a joint statement following reports of E. coli contamination linked to cheddar cheese made from raw milk by Raw Farm.
Raw Farm is the largest producer of raw, unpasteurized dairy products in the United States. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a longtime customer of Raw Farm products.
At least seven people in three states, including three young children, have been sickened by E. coli contamination linked to Raw Farm’s cheese. The Food and Drug Administration has determined the cheese to be the “likely source” of the outbreak.
Raw Farm products have been linked to several foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years.
The FDA can force a recall if a company refuses to voluntarily recall unsafe food. Raw Farms has, to date, refused FDA’s voluntary recall recommendation.
“The FDA recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from sale after they determined it was the likely source of an ongoing E. coli outbreak,” the representatives said. “Raw Farm refused. We have one message for Raw Farm and FDA: get it off the shelves – now.
“Two people have been hospitalized because of this outbreak, with several more falling ill. More than half of the illnesses were in children aged 3 or younger. This cannot stand. If Raw Farm refuses to take unsafe products off the market, FDA must use its mandatory recall authority and take them to court. A company should not be able to flatly refuse a recall recommendation. That puts consumers health at risk to protect the profits of a corporation.
“FDA must act so consumers are not subject to the whims of corporations that would put their profits over public health. And if mandatory authority needs to be strengthened, the Food Safety Caucus stands ready to tackle this issue at FDA’s request.
“Secretary Kennedy’s connection to Raw Farm and FDA’s lack of action here raise serious questions. At bare minimum, this is a potentially concerning conflict of interest. At worst, Secretary Kennedy is once again playing dangerous games with American’s health. ”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged consumers to consider not eating Raw Farm cheese products.
About E. coli infections
Food contaminated with E. coli may not look or smell bad.
Anyone who has eaten any of the implicated Raw Farm products and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible exposure to the bacteria. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. Others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
About 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor.
Many people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients.
People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. People with HUS will likely be hospitalized because the condition can cause other serious and ongoing problems such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurologic problems.
