Several types of raw milk cheese from a popular Washington-based creamery are being pulled from shelves due to a dangerous E. coli contamination. If you’ve recently bought specialty cheese, especially from Twin Sisters Creamery, here’s what you need to know.
Cheese Recall Alert: What You Need to Know
Twin Sisters Creamery, located in Ferndale, Washington, has recalled four of its raw milk cheese varieties:
- Whatcom Blue
- Farmhouse
- Peppercorn
- Mustard Seed
These cheeses were made from unpasteurized (raw) milk and aged for at least 60 days. Despite the aging process, recent tests revealed contamination with dangerous strains of E. coli, including Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and E. coli O103.
How the Problem Was Discovered
The recall was triggered after a third-party lab found E. coli O103 in Farmhouse cheese, and STEC in Whatcom Blue. The Washington State Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed these findings.
So far, three people in Washington and Oregon have fallen ill, and one of them confirmed eating Twin Sisters Farmhouse cheese before getting sick.
Health Risks from E. Coli Contamination
E. coli infections can be very dangerous, especially for:
- Young children
- Older adults
- People with weak immune systems
Symptoms usually appear within 1 to 10 days of eating contaminated food. These can include:
- Severe stomach cramps
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vomiting
In serious cases, E. coli O103 can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) — a condition that can cause kidney failure and even be life-threatening.
Recalled Cheese Products and Batch Codes
The affected cheeses were shipped between July 27 and October 22, 2025, to distributors in Washington and Oregon. Some may have been repackaged and sold under different names, lot numbers, or expiry dates.
Recalled batch codes include:
| Cheese Type | Batch Code |
|---|---|
| Whatcom Blue | 250527B |
| Whatcom Blue | 250610B |
| Whatcom Blue | 250618B |
| Whatcom Blue | 250624B |
| Farmhouse | 250603F |
| Farmhouse | 250616B |
| Peppercorn | 250603P |
| Mustard Seed | 250616M |
What Consumers Should Do
- Do not eat any cheese with the batch codes above.
- Throw away the cheese immediately, even if you’ve already eaten some without symptoms.
- Clean and disinfect any surfaces or containers the cheese touched.
- See a doctor if you feel sick after eating the cheese — especially if you experience diarrhea, vomiting, or stomach pain.
- You can return the cheese for a full refund, according to Twin Sisters Creamery.
