Two dead in horror 'contaminated cheese' outbreak with UK on high alert

Soft cheese with white mold on a cutting board, with vegetables. Snack to wine (Image: Getty Images)

Health authorities have recalled potentially contaminated soft cheese that has already killed at least two people on the continent.

A further 21 individuals also fell seriously unwell in France, where the victims perished, after consuming bacteria-infected dairy products between December 2024 and August 13 of this year.

Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have all confirmed four cases of listeriosis between April 14 and July 9.

Concerns are now mounting that the infection may have reached the UK, though no connected cases have been documented at present.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) suspects that pasteurised soft cow's and goat's milk cheeses manufactured by French producer Chavegrand may be connected to the incidents.

The firm has now withdrawn all cheese batches produced before June 23, 2025.

The items - all soft cheeses crafted from pasteurised cow's milk or goat's milk - were sold until August 9 in France alongside other nations, under various commercial brand names.

They can be identified by the health mark FR 23.117. 001 - anyone who has purchased this specific cheese has been advised against consuming it.

A company spokesperson stated: "We have increased the number of tests on products and equipment by a factor of 100 to ensure there were no contaminants All our employees, who have been working very hard since June, are stunned by this news."

French health officials have warned: "Anyone who has consumed [these cheeses] and experiences a fever, whether isolated or accompanied by headaches and body aches, should consult their doctor and inform them of their use."

Symptoms of listeriosis can manifest up to eight weeks after consuming contaminated food.

Listeriosis symptoms

Listeriosis is an infection triggered by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. It can cause symptoms that typically last a few days for most people.

However, if they persist longer, it's recommended to seek an urgent GP appointment or ring NHS 111.

If you're expecting, you may also experience stomach pain or notice your baby moving less than usual. Babies with listeriosis might be irritable and feed less than normal.

The elderly are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from listeriosis, and this risk escalates with age.

In the recent French cases, those affected ranged in age from 34 to 95 - 11 of whom were women. In the four other countries reporting cases, the patients were aged between 35 and 70.

Despite the potential severity of listeria, the ECDC reassured the public that contamination of pasteurised soft cheese is uncommon. It declared: "For the population in good general health status, the overall risk is estimated to be very low,' it stated.

"Given the long incubation time of listeriosis more vulnerable people such as pregnant women, elderly people and people with immune deficiency or underlying health conditions should pay attention to signs like fever or severe headache and seek medical advice without delay."

The ECDC has stated that contaminated products may have been distributed in the following countries:.