Late last week, public health authorities in both Washington and Oregon announced an outbreak of E. coli connected to raw milk cheese. Three people—two adults and one child under the age of 5—in the two states were reported as developing infections “caused by E. coli O103.” Now, as of October 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting the public about the seriousness of this event—and providing details regarding which cheese products consumers should look for in their refrigerators.

In a notice published Monday morning, the FDA says two types of cheese from Twin Sisters Creamery are being recalled because they “may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and E. coli O103“: item #28855 Whatcom Blue and item #29608 Farmhouse Cheese. These affected products were reportedly sold in “half-moon shaped pieces,” shaped in clear plastic wrap, and weighed approximately five to six ounces each.

Additional types of cheese—Peppercorn and Mustard Seed aged cheeses—were also listed in the Washington State Department of Health’s advisory. The Twin Sister Creamery website lists all four types on their cheese products page. The health department says that some of the recalled cheese may have been repackaged by retailers, “so the original label may not be present.”

The FDA also provided the additional identifying details:

  • Item# 28855 Whatcom Blue – MFG Code 793511
  • Item# 28855 Whatcom Blue – MFG Code 781511
  • Item# 28855 Whatcom Blue – MFG Code 775511
  • Item# 28855 Whatcom Blue – MFG Code 761511
  • Item# 29608 Farmhouse – MFG Code 765511
  • Item# 29608 Farmhouse – MFG Code 752511
  • Item# 29608 Farmhouse – MFG Code 738511
  • Item# 29608 Farmhouse – MFG Code 726511

The manufacturer codes can be found on each piece of cheese and will either be “ink jet printed” or on “a small tan-to-orange sticker.” The FDA’s notice also includes product images.

According to the FDA, the bacteria Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli can produce “serious and sometimes fatal” infections particularly in young children, elderly adults, or immunocompromised individuals. Symptoms of E. coli O103 may involve several abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting, according to the agency.

E. coli O103 may also result in a life-threatening condition known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, warns the FDA, further elaborating that this syndrome may cause “kidney failure, particularly dangerous in young children, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised persons. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and potentially fatal complications.”

The FDA confirms that three illnesses have been reported, though further details of the individuals’ conditions were not provided. The notice also notes that the illnesses are “not associated with the consumption of cheese items” re-packaged by the recalling firm, Peterson Company of Auburn, Washington. The Peterson Company website says it’s a direct importer, converter, and full-service distributor.

The recalled cheese was distributed to both retailers and food businesses, such as caterers, distributors, and restaurants in four listed states: Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The distribution dates occurred between August 14, 2025 and October 24, 2025.

The issue was reportedly first discovered when an “opened, leftover” Farmhouse cheese sample—which is “is aged at least 60 days, as required by law, to reduce potential pathogens”—first tested positive for E. coli 0103, according to Washington state health officials, before a second cheese in a retail location, which was unopened, tested positive for STEC. “Additional unopened samples of cheese from multiple retail locations were collected for testing with results pending,” reports the health authority.

Though the items are no longer available in stores, the FDA says the cheese may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. “If consumers still have recalled products in their home, do not eat or use them, throw them away, and clean and sanitize surfaces they touched,” says the agency. “Consumers concerned about an illness should contact a medical professional.”

Additionally, the recalled cheese may be returned to the place of purchase for a refund if desired.

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Molly Jasinski
Molly Jasinski has worked as a writer, editor and social media manager for almost 15 years. She previously worked as an editor for the magazine Birds & Blooms. She’s also held other positions at Trusted Media Brands, working on direct-to-consumer books, editing special interest publications, and assisting with digital production and social me...
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Molly Jasinski