ONE Brit has died after contracting listeria, it has been announced.
Officials have now issued an urgent warning to the public amid the bacteria having been caught through contaminated cheese.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) previously recalled some batches of Baronet cheeses made by the Old Cheese Room in Wiltshire.
Experts said there have been three listeria cases all 'potentially' linked to the cheese.
Baronet is a pasteurised semi soft cheese with a pinkish orange rind and strong smell.
One of the recalls is for the 1kg Baronet, with best before dates of March 21, April 11, April 12 and April 18, 2023.
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The other two recalls are for the200g Baby Baronet and 270g ofMini Baronet.
The Baby Baronet is being recalled for batches, March 22, April 4, April 10 and April 16, 2023.
The Mini Baronet is being recalled for three batches: March 22, April 10 and April 18, 2023.
The cheeses are sometimes served sliced from a deli counter, so it may not always be clear whether you have purchased an affected product.
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If in doubt, consumers are advised to contact the retailer they bought their cheese from to find out if the Baronet cheese they have purchased is from the affected batch.
Brits who believe they have bought one of the affected Baronet items have been urged not to eat it and contact their retailer.
Tina Potter, head of incidents at the FSA, said: “Due to this outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, we are urging consumers who are vulnerable to Listeria infection – including people who are pregnant and people with weakened immune systems to ensure they follow the advice in the product recall notices, which details all of the products which may pose a risk.
“We are also asking people to make sure that elderly relatives who may have purchased the recalled items, and who are at particular risk, are aware of the recall and observe the advice.
She added: “Some foods carry a greater risk of listeria than others. These include soft cheeses, pate, smoked fish, chilled sliced meats and other chilled ready to eat products.”
Previous outbreaks of listeria have been linked to cold meats and pre-prepared sandwiches.
In 2019, there was a significant listeria outbreak in NHS hospitals caused by contaminated sandwiches, leading to the deaths of seven people.
Pregnant women, babies, those with a weak immune system and the elderly are at particular risk and should contact 111 immediately if they believe they have listeriosis.
You may need a blood test to determine if you've been infected.
You should call 999 or go to A&E if you experience more severe symptoms – symptom 7 to 9 on the list.
The symptoms of listeriosis you need to know
For most people, listeriosis is a mild illness that gets better on its own.
You may experience:
- A high temperature of 38C or above
- Aches and pains
- Chills
- Feeling or being sick
- Diarrhoea
Signs of a more serious infection include:
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
Pregnant women may also have:
- A stomach ache
- Feel their baby moving less than usual
Source: NHS
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