UKHSA warns not to eat semi-soft cheese amid listeria outbreak
It comes as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the warning on Friday, March 25 after “exceptionally high levels” of listeria were found in some of the cheeses.
Earlier this week, the FSA shared an alert sharing that The Old Cheese Room manufacturer in Wiltshire had extended its recall of Baronet, Baby Baronet and Mini Baronet Soft Cheeses because listeria monocytogenes has been found in some batches.
The recall included packs sizes 1kg, 270g and 200g, and best-before dates of March 21 and 22, and April 4, 10, 11, 12, 16 and 18.
The UKHSA has since identified three listeria cases potentially linked to an outbreak and said one person has died.
Friday 24 March – The Cambridge Food Company Limited recalls The Old Cheese Room Baronet and Baby Baronet Soft Cheeses because of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes #FoodAlert https://t.co/w6czU00cPt pic.twitter.com/6cx0iM0JWo
— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) March 24, 2023
The type of cheese, Baronet is a pasteurised semi-soft cheese with a pinkish-orange rind and a pungent smell.
“Baronet cheese is sold in both small individual rounds and as 1kg wheels,” UKHSA guidance states.
“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.”
Speaking of the outbreak, Tina Potter, head of incidents at FSA, said: “Due to the outbreak of listeria monocytgenes linked to Baronet semi-soft cheese, 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…
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