Soft cheese warning after deadly outbreak of listeria

THE public has been warned not to eat Baronet cheese after a listeria outbreak caused a patient’s death.

Health officials said yesterday that the semi-soft cheese had been recalled after being contaminated with the bacteria, in some cases at very high levels.

The pasteurised cheese, manufactured in Wiltshire, has a washed pinkish orange rind and is described as full bodied, rich and buttery.

Officials said further recalls may be undertaken if more products are found to be affected.

Monitoring of listeriosis samples, the illness caused by the bacteria listeria, by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) identified three cases linked to the cheese. One of the individuals has died, UKHSA said. Around 120 cases of listeriosis are confirmed in England every year and some foods carry greater risk of the bacteria, such as soft cheeses, pâté, and chilled sliced meats.

A genetically related strain of listeria found in the samples of Baronet cheese was found in all three cases examined by UKHSA.

However, officials said that investigations were ongoing and the link did not mean the person who died had eaten Baronet cheese. There is also no confirmation that Baronet is the cause of the outbreak.

The cheese is sold in both small individual rounds and as 1kg wheels, but they can sometimes be served sliced from a deli counter. Consumers are advised to contact their retailer to find out if the Baronet they have purchased is from the affected batches.