Cheeses from France recalled in the latest listeria concerns

  •  Cheeses are being recalled by Washed Rind Pty Ltd due to listeria concerns
  •  This is the second listeria concern after rockmelons were recalled
  •  Six people have died due to the rockmelon listeria outbreak

Cheeses from France have been recalled by the Washed Rind Pty Ltd due to potential listeria monocytogenes contamination, which causes listeria.

This is the second listeria outbreak concern in Australia in 2018 after rockmelons from Rombola Family Farms in Nericon near Griffith voluntarily stopped production and recalled their fruit from the shelves.

The rockmelon listeria outbreak has killed six people across New South Wales and Victoria as of March 20, according to Nine News.  

Cheeses from France have been recalled by the Washed Rind Pty Ltd due to potential listeria contamination (stock image)

Various cheese brands such as Saint Simeon and Brie de Nangis have been recalled (stock image)

Various cheese brands such as Saint Simeon and Brie de Nangis have been recalled (stock image)

What cheeses are being recalled for listeria? 

According to the NSW Food Authority, the following brands are being recalled:

  • Saint Simeon 200g, packaged in a plastic container. Best before April 8, 2018 
  • Brie de Nangis 1kg, packaged in cheese paper and plastic. It is set in a half wooden box. Best before April 8, 2018 
  • Le Vignelait Brillat Savarin 500g, packaged in a plastic container. Best before April 8, 2018
  • Coulommiers Truffe 800g,packaged in cheese paper and plastic. It is set in a half wooden box. Best before April 8, 2018 and April 22, 2018
  • Le Coulommiers 500g, packaged in cheese paper and plastic. It is set in a half wooden box.  Best before April 8, 2018 and April 22, 2018
  • Brie de Brie Pasteurise 2.8kg, packaged in cheese paper and plastic. It is set in a half wooden box. Best before April 8, 2018 and April 22, 2018

Most of the cheese brands being recalled are best before April 8, 2018.

However Coulommiers Truffe 800g, Le Coulommiers 500g and Brie de Brie Pasteurise 2.8kg – all wrapped in cheese paper and plastic as well as set in half wooden box – have the additional best before date of April 22, 2018.

The cheeses are being recalled from IGA and Supa IGA in New South Wales, independent retailers in Queensland and ACT.

The cheese types are also being recalled from Foodworks and independent retailers in Victoria, Foodlands IGA and independent retailers in South Australia and IGA, Supa IGA and independent retailers in Western Australia. 

NSW Food Authority advises that you should not eat the cheese product and return it to where it was bought from for a full refund.

It also suggests you should seek medical advice if you are concerned.

Listeria outbreak can cause real concerns for pregnant women, the elderly, infants and people with a compromised immune system.

It comes after six people have died from listeria in Victoria and New South Wales due to rock melon (stock image)

It comes after six people have died from listeria in Victoria and New South Wales due to rock melon (stock image)

NSW Food Authority advises that you should not eat the cheese product and return it to where it was bought from for a full refund (stock image)

NSW Food Authority advises that you should not eat the cheese product and return it to where it was bought from for a full refund (stock image)

WHAT IS LISTERIA?

WHAT IT IS, THE RISKS, AND HOW TO AVOID IT 

  • Listeria is everywhere in the environment
  • It’s a type of bacterium that infects humans and other warm-blooded animals through contaminated food
  • It’s found in dirty water, irrigation water, soil and fertiliser
  • Soft cheeses such as Camembert; cold chicken and deli meats; raw seafood and cold seafood such as smoked salmon; ice cream, fresh fruit and bagged vegetables can also carry Listeria
  • Infection can also occur through contact with animals and pests and insufficient cleaning of contaminated fruit and unclean hands 

WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE … AND THE SYMPTOMS

  • Pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk
  • Listeria starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and sometimes diarrhoea
  • The time from consuming the bacterium to showing the signs of illness can often be between 8 to 90 days
  • Some people end up in hospital with dehydration 

HOW TO AVOID IT

  • Don’t buy bruised or damaged fruit, wash it before eating and refrigerate within two hours of slicing
  • Avoid foods past their ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date
  • Cook foods thoroughly
  • Reheat food until it is steaming hot
  • Refrigerate leftovers promptly and use within 24 hours, or freeze
  • Ready to eat food should never be stored in the fridge for too long as Listeria is one of the few pathogens that can grow in the refrigerator

Source: Food Authority NSW, Food Safety Information Council

 

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