Fresno Raw Farm Pushes Back on 'Premature' FDA E. coli Investigation

Owner claims all products have tested negative for E. coli, calls probe 'misleading and completely premature'

Mar. 18, 2026 at 12:37am

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The FDA is investigating Fresno County's Raw Farm for a possible E. coli outbreak, but the owner, Michael McAfee, says the investigation is baseless and that all of their products have tested negative for E. coli. McAfee claims Raw Farm tests all of its products at each stage of production for various pathogens and only releases products that test negative.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tension between small, independent food producers and federal regulators over food safety concerns. Raw milk and cheese products have faced increased scrutiny in recent years, with some consumers valuing the perceived health benefits while regulators focus on potential risks.

The details

The FDA reports seven confirmed cases of E. coli in California, Texas, and Florida, with only three of those people having eaten Raw Farm cheese. The agency is continuing to test the cheese for contamination, but so far no traces of E. coli have been found. McAfee says Raw Farm has 14,000 pathogen tests in the last seven months showing all products are pathogen-free, and that they are the only dairy in the world with this level of testing.

  • In 2024, Raw Farm's cheese was investigated by the FDA for an E. coli outbreak, but no traces were found.
  • As of March 18, 2026, there is only a voluntary recall, so Raw Farm's cheese can stay on store shelves.

The players

Raw Farm

A raw milk and cheese farm in Fresno County, California.

Michael McAfee

The owner of Raw Farm who is pushing back against the FDA investigation, claiming all of their products have tested negative for E. coli.

FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is investigating Raw Farm for a possible E. coli outbreak.

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What they’re saying

“This is completely misleading and completely premature.”

— Michael McAfee, Owner, Raw Farm (yourcentralvalley.com)

“We have fourteen thousand pathogen tests in the last seven months showing all of our products are pathogen-free.”

— Michael McAfee, Owner, Raw Farm (yourcentralvalley.com)

“No products are released unless they test negative for E. coli or other pathogens. We are the only dairy in the world that has this kind of technology.”

— Michael McAfee, Owner, Raw Farm (yourcentralvalley.com)

“I am completely supported by our consumers. This is another speed bump that will pass and pass quickly.”

— Michael McAfee, Owner, Raw Farm (yourcentralvalley.com)

What’s next

The FDA is continuing to test the Raw Farm cheese for contamination, and the agency still believes Raw Farm may be responsible for the E. coli cases, even though no traces have been found so far.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over the safety of raw milk and cheese products, with small producers like Raw Farm claiming rigorous testing and consumer support, while regulators remain concerned about potential health risks. The outcome could impact the future of raw dairy regulations in California and beyond.