Cheese alert: two recalls of danger products

TWO companies have recalled their cheese products this week after discovering that they pose a danger to the health of anyone who might consume them.

The first set of dodgy products is a range of cheeses from Dnnes Stores. There is a risk that these may be contaminated by Listeria “monocytogenes”: these are bacteria that can grow on the cheese inside its packaging or after it has been unwrapped. These bacteria are known for multipling quickly and mounting very aggressive attacks on humans who consume them.

The monocytogenes cause the illness listeriosis, which is unlikely to be fatal if contracted by a healthy person. However, listeriosis can be fatal if contracted by young children, older people or anyone with comprised immunity. Listeriosis can also be very serious for pregnant women. It can provoke miscarriage or premature birth and can harm the feotus. Pregnant women are routinely advised by health care professionals to avoid soft cheese and other products that are known to harbour a high risk of bacteria. The particular problem here, though, is that the monocytogenes may have contaminated hard cheeses which are not usually considered a high risk product.

The recall applies to all the following Dunnes Stores products, whatever the best before dates are.
•Wicklow Smoked Cheddar, 150g
•Wicklow Tomato & Herb Cheddar, 150g
•Wicklow Nettle & Chive Cheddar, 150g
•Wicklow Bue Brie, 150g
•Simply Better Irish Brie Cheese & Cranberry Quiche, 800g
•Simply Better Wicklow Ban in Ceramic Dish, 150g
•Simply Better Double Cream Wicklow Ban, 150g
•Simply Better Farmhouse Irish Cheese Selection, 735g
•Simply Better & Neven Maguire Cheese Selection, 705g

These products are sold in Northern Ireland, but residents of the UK mainland should check any products which friends or relatives may have brought over as Christmas gifts. Symptoms of listeriosis are similar to flu. They include a high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. Anyone who has one of these products should take them back to the shop where they were bought and they should then obtain a full refund.

Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese has also recalled some products. These include the above Wicklow products already recalled by Dunnes Stores, as well as the products listed below (all batch numbers and all best before dates).
•Ballykilty Baking Brie, 150g
•St Killian Cheese, 150g
•Baking St Killian Cheese, 150g
•Wicklow Ban, 150g
•Wicklow Blue Brie, 150g
•St Killians, 150g
•Wicklow Farmhouse Cheddar Wedge, 150g
•Wicklow Gold Tomato & Herb, 150g
•Drunken Saint, 150g

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