The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have warned the public not to eat Baronet semi soft cheeses after some samples were found to have been contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.
Whole genome sequencing surveillance of listeriosis samples by UKHSA identified three cases potentially linked to an outbreak, including one person who has died.
The Old Cheese Room has pulled 1kg packs of Baronet Soft Cheese, 200g packs of Baby Baronet Soft Cheese and 270g packs of Mini Baronet Soft Cheese from sale. Full details of the recalls can be found in the box bellow.
No confirmation of cause
While the outbreak strain was found in some food products and samples taken from food environments, there has been no conformation that Baronet is the cause of this outbreak.
A spokesman for The Old Cheese Room said the producer was working closely with its local Environmental Health Officer and the FSA and will continue to do so.
“As a responsible cheesemaker we carry out regular cleaning, disinfecting and swab testing of our making and ripening rooms,” the spokesman added.
“Since the test that showed a trace of listeria monocytogenes in Baronet, we have changed our monthly testing regime to positive release, this means that we test every batch of cheese before it leaves us.”
The FSA advised consumers who may have bought the affected products not to eat them and instead contact The Old Cheese Room for a full refund.
Recall notices
FSA head of incidents Tina Potter said: “Due to this outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, we are urging consumers who are vulnerable to Listeria infection – including people who are pregnant and people with weakened immune systems – to ensure they follow the advice in the product recall notices, which details all of the products which may pose a risk.
“We are also asking people to make sure that elderly relatives who may have purchased the recalled items, and who are at particular risk, are aware of the recall and observe the advice.”
Meanwhile, earlier this year, Lidl GB extended its recall of Smoked Trout to include Smoked Salmon Products produced by St James Smokehouse, because these products might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
