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Health officials have urged the public not to eat semi-soft cheeses due to the risk of them being contaminated with listeria. The Food Standards Agency and the UK Health Safety Agency have issued a warning not to eat Baronet semi-soft cheese, which have been withdrawn from the market because they are contaminated with listeria.

The type of cheese that is remembered is Baronet, which is a pasteurized semi-soft cheese with a pinkish-orange rind and a pungent odor.

It is often purchased in small individual rounds and as 1kg wheels which can be cut to order. Consumers have been advised to contact the retailer they purchased their cheese from to find out if the Baronet cheese they purchased is from the affected companies and batches, and not to eat the product in the meantime.

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Symptoms of listeriosis include a high temperature, muscle aches or pains, chills, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms can be similar to those of the flu. In rare cases, it can be more serious, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.

Those most vulnerable to listeria infections are those over the age of 65, pregnant women and their unborn babies, and babies less than one month old. As well as those with weakened immune systems, such as people with cancer, HIV, underlying liver or kidney disease, or people undergoing immunosuppressive treatment.

The UK Health Security Agency has identified three cases potentially linked to a listeria outbreak. In addition, the outbreak has been found in some food products and samples taken from food environments, although Baronet has not been confirmed to be the cause of this outbreak, the organization added.

The Food Standards Agency says that if you have purchased any recalled products, it is important that:

• Do not eat the product
• Thoroughly clean all surfaces that may have been touched to prevent cross-contamination from other foods and items used to consume food and beverages.
• Make sure refrigerators are kept at the proper temperature (5 degrees Celsius or below), as this will limit the growth of any harmful bacteria.
• Always use products up to and within their expiration date, following storage instructions on the label.

Both the UK Food Standards Agency and the UK Health Safety Agency will continue to work together and with local authorities in response to this outbreak. More recalls may be made if more products are found to be affected.

FSA Incident Manager Tina Potter said: “Due to this outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, we urge consumers who are vulnerable to Listeria infection, including pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems, to ensure they Follow product advice Recall notices, which list all products that may pose a risk.

“We are also asking people to ensure that older family members who may have purchased the recalled items and who are at particular risk are aware of the recall and follow the advice.

“Some foods carry a higher risk of listeria than others. These include soft cheeses, pâtés, smoked fish, chilled sliced ​​meats, and other chilled ready-to-eat items.

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