A type of cheese recently sold and offered free to customers during in-store tastings at Costco Wholesale Corp. outlets in five states has been preliminarily linked to the potentially deadly bacteria E.coli. At least 25 have become sick and nine hospitalized with E.coli after eating the cheese. No deaths have been reported but one possible case of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure, was reported.

The Bravo Farms Dutch Style Raw Milk Gouda Cheese was sold and sampled between October 5 and November 1 at Costco stores in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and the San Diego area. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and California state authorities have begun an investigation into the Traver, California, plant that makes the cheese.

Customers who purchased the cheese should get rid of it in a closed plastic bag and place it in a sealed trash can. The cheese can also be returned to a Costco store for a refund.

While most people can recover within a week, E.coli can lead to severe infection and be deadly. The bacteria causes symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration and in extreme cases, kidney failure. Anyone experiencing symptoms of E.coli should contact their health care provider.