France recalls more cheeses due to listeria risk

The recall on two types of cheese sold at Auchan, Leclerc and Intermarché comes following similar issues with other cheese, Kinder chocolate, and investigations into Buitoni pizzas

A cheeseboard with lots of different cheeses on it
The cheese recall is the latest to be concerned by listeria risk
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Some cheeses sold in French supermarkets including Auchan, Leclerc and Intermarché have been recalled due to a risk of listeria poisoning.

The cheeses included in the recall are sold in each of the three supermarkets and are produced by the same company, Fromagerie Le Centurion, confirmed specialist website Rappel Conso.

The recalled cheeses are:

Pavés Hauts-de-France 230 g

  • Barcode: 3060921462490
  • Lot numbers: 5500855I / 5A0675AI / 5903059I
  • Sold: Between April 19 and May 4

Fromages d'Abbaye en dés 120g, brand Petit Marché

  • Barcode: 3060921503759
  • Lot number: 54001545.
  • Consume-by date: 28/06/2022
  • Sold: Between April 16 and 26
  • Also sold in Cora, Atac, and Système U stores

Anyone who believes they have these products should not eat them, and instead dispose of them or take them back to the shop for a refund.

Consumers who have already eaten the products, and who later suffer from muscle aches and pains or fever, should consult a doctor, it advises. The risk is especially high for vulnerable people and pregnant women.

It said: “Listeriosis is a potentially serious disease with an incubation period of up to eight weeks.

“Severe forms with neurological complications and maternal or foetal damage in pregnant women may also occur. Pregnant women, as well as immunocompromised and elderly people, should be particularly aware of these symptoms.”

Pizza poisoning

The recall comes after another complaint was issued against Buitoni, the manufacturer of pizzas under the “Bella Napoli” brand, even as it is being investigated for a complaint about a pizza under its “Fraich’up” brand.

A woman who claims she became ill after eating a Bella Napoli pizza issued an involuntary injury complaint in Perpignan (Occitanie), the AFP reported late last week. Her lawyer said that she needed to be hospitalised for six days due to E.coli poisoning after eating the food, and is “still very tired a month later”.

Her complaint comes a few weeks after the Paris public prosecutor's office opened an investigation on March 22 into alleged "deception of goods, display or sale of corrupt or falsified food products harmful to health, placing on the market a product harmful to health, endangering others, involuntary injury and involuntary manslaughter".

Buitoni's Fraîch'Up range, belonging to the Nestlé group, is included in the investigation after 50 cases of E.coli contamination were confirmed, some of them allegedly linked to the consumption of Buitoni pizzas.

The cheese recall also comes just a month after a similar recall for brie, camembert and coulommiers cheese, and Kinder chocolate.

Packs of the cheeses and chocolates sold in major French supermarkets including Auchan, Leclerc, Super U, and Carrefour were considered to be at risk of listeria, and were also recalled as a result.

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