Christmas cheese urgent alert as products recalled due to potentially deadly bacteria
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A number of festive foods are urgently being pulled from the supermarket shelves over fears they are riddled with a potentially deadly bacteria - which could trigger meningitis and sepsis. According to the Food Standards Agency, cheeses by Wicklow Farmhouse, including festive favourites brie and cheddar, must be recalled due to a potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes — a type of bacteria that causes a disease called listeriosis, which causes flu-like symptoms, vomiting and diarrhoea in most people. Wicklow Farmhouse cheeses are currently being sold in independent stores as well as Aldi supermarkets in Ireland.
In most severe cases of listeriosis, infections may spread to the bloodstream or brain, potentially bringing on meningitis or life-threatening sepsis. Those most at risk include the elderly, young children and anyone with a weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients.
Pregnant women are also considered high risk, with almost one in five that get listeriosis suffering a miscarriage or stillbirth. Stores across Ireland stock these cheeses, which have seen the 150g portions and their use-by dates impacted. The recall specifically affected those in Northern Ireland, The Food Safety Agency said, with buyers urged to return them for a full refund with no receipt required. The food watchdog said: "Point of sale notices will be displayed in the retail stores in Northern Ireland that are selling the products.".
Just a day prior, several other christmas-dinner>Christmas dinner staples were pulled off the shelves due to concerns over customers' health. Products included cabbage, cooked meats and cheeses made by Dunnes in Ireland which were also feared to contain Listeria.
