Two dead and dozens ill in listeria outbreak linked to cheese sold worldwide
Health officials have recalled potentially fatal soft cheese after two people died following a listeria outbreak.
A further 21 people also became seriously ill in France, where the two victims also passed away, from eating bacteria-contaminated dairy between December 2024 and August 13 of this year. Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have all also confirmed four cases of listeriosis between April 14 and July 9.
There are now fears that the infection could have spread to the UK, although no related cases have been reported at the time of writing. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) believe that pasteurised soft cow's and goat's milk cheeses produced by French manufacturer Chavegrand is possibly linked to the cases.
The company has now recalled all batches of cheese produced before June 23, 2025. The products - all soft cheeses made from pasteurized cow's milk or goat's milk - were marketed until August 9 in France as well as other countries, under different commercial brand names. They are identified by the health mark FR 23.117.001 - anyone who has bought this particular cheese has been warned not to eat it.
A spokesperson for the company said: 'We have increased the number of tests on products and equipment by a factor of 100 to ensure there were no contaminants All our employees, who have been working very hard since June, are stunned by this news."
French health officials added: 'Anyone who has consumed [these cheeses] and experiences a fever, whether isolated or accompanied by headaches and body aches, should consult their doctor and inform them of their use." Listeriosis symptoms can begin up to eight weeks after eating contaminated food.
Listeriosis symptoms
Listeriosis is an infection caused by a bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. It can cause the following symptoms, which generally last a few days for the majority of people. However, if they persist for for longer, you're advised to ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111.
High temperature
Aches and pains
Chills
Feeling or being sick
Diarrhoea
If you're pregnant, you may also have a stomach ache or notice your baby moving less than usual. Babies with listeriosis may also be irritable and feed less than usual. Older people are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from listeriosis and the risk increases with age.
In the most recent cases in France, those affected were between 34 and 95 - 11 of them were women. While in the four other countries with reported cases, the patients were between of 35 and 70.
Despite the potential seriousness of listeria, the ECDC assured the public that contamination of pasteurized soft cheese is rare. It stated: "For the population in good general health status, the overall risk is estimated to be very low,' it stated.
"Given the long incubation time of listeriosis more vulnerable people such as pregnant women, elderly people and people with immune deficiency or underlying health conditions should pay attention to signs like fever or severe headache and seek medical advice without delay."
According to the ECDC, contaminated products may been distributed in the following countries:
Albania
Andorra
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Canada
Czechia
Côte d'Ivoire
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France, including French Polynesia
Germany
Hong Kong
Hungary
Italy
Japan
Madagascar
Malaysia
Mauritius
The Netherlands
New Caledonia
Singapore
Slovakia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States
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