Raw Farm LLC cheese found to be cause of E. coli outbreak

Federal officials are reporting that inspectors found unsanitary handling and other food safety issues at Raw Farm LLC, the dairy connected to an E. Coli O157 outbreak.

The outbreak sickened nine people across California, Texas and Florida.

According to an Executive Summary from the Food and Drug Administration, inspectors found inadequate maintenance of equipment, lack of preventive controls, and unsanitary handling of product during processing and production. The agency issued 483 Form inspection reports requiring the company to take action to resolve the problems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified raw milk cheddar cheese manufactured by RAW FARM LLC as the suspect vehicle in the outbreak. Based on the combined epidemiologic, limited traceback, and laboratory data, raw cheddar cheese and raw milk from RAW FARM,LLC were confirmed as the outbreak vehicle. Full scope, for cause inspections with sample and data collection, were performed at three RAW FARM LLC locations.

In other outbreak news released July 15, the FDA reported that the patient count for an outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg has increased to 69, up from 51 a week ago. The agency has not reported the patients’ ages or where they live. The FDA has begun traceback efforts but has not reported what food is being traced. The agency first reported the outbreak on July 8.

For an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis, the patient count has increased to 91, up from 80 a week age. The FDA has not reported the patients’ ages or where they live. The agency has begun traceback efforts but is not yet reporting what food is being traced. The outbreak was first announced on June 8.