“A California raw milk dairy that was previously linked to a fatal outbreak of bird flu in cats has now been linked to an E coli outbreak involving cheddar cheese, affecting nine people in three states.”

“The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in an alert that more than half of the people sickened so far are children under age five.”

“The farm identified in the outbreak is Raw Farm in Fresno, California, the largest producer of raw milk in the US.”

“In December 2024, Raw Farm was identified as the source of H5N1 bird flu in three Los Angeles-area cats that had consumed raw milk. Two died, and fears were raised that that cats, like pigs, had cellular receptors which allow them to act as 'mixing vessels for reassortment of avian and mammalian influenza viruses'.”

“The farm was also linked to the largest salmonella outbreak in more than a decade when, in 2024, at least 165 people were sickened.”

“Raw Farm’s president, Aaron McAfee, told NBC News that he won’t voluntarily recall any of his products unless there’s 'direct proof' linking to the illnesses.”

“No Raw Farm products have been reported to test positive for E coli and the FDA has not issued a mandatory recall of Raw Farm products, but it has recommended the producer remove cheese products from store shelves voluntarily.”