The public is warned not to eat recalled Baronet semi-soft cheeses because they are contaminated with listeria, in some cheeses at exceptionally high levels
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are warning the public not to eat Baronet semi-soft cheeses that have been recalled because they are contaminated with listeria, in some cheeses at exceptionally high levels.
Baronet cheese is sold in both small individual rounds and as 1kg wheels. The cheeses are sometimes served sliced from a deli counter, so it may not always be clear whether you have purchased an affected product. If in doubt, consumers are advised to contact the retailer they bought their cheese from to find out if the Baronet cheese they have purchased is from the batches affected and in the meantime to not eat the product.
Whole Genome Sequencing surveillance of listeriosis samples by UKHSA has identified 3 cases potentially linked to an outbreak. Sadly, one person has died.
The outbreak strain has also been found in some food products and samples taken from food environments. However, there is no confirmation that Baronet is the cause of this outbreak.
More information on the recall can be found on the FSA website.
Symptoms caused by listeriosis can be similar to flu and include:
However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.
Some people are more vulnerable to listeria infections – including those aged over 65 years, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than one month old and people with weakened immune systems (such as those with cancer, HIV, underlying liver or kidney disease or people undergoing immunosuppressive treatment).
Anyone who does fall ill with symptoms of listeriosis is advised to follow advice on the NHS website.
Tina Potter, Head of Incidents at FSA, said:
Richard Elson, Head of Incidents and Response at UKHSA, said:
Some foods carry a greater risk of listeria than others. These include:
Anyone who does fall ill with symptoms of listeriosis is advised to follow advice on the NHS website and to report their illness to their local authority.
The FSA and UKHSA continue to work closely together and with local authorities in response to this outbreak and further recalls may be undertaken if any more products are found to be affected.