First listeria case linked to French cheeses confirmed in Belgium

Belgium’s health institute Sciensano has confirmed the country’s first listeria infection linked to French cheeses, as reported by VRT on Wednesday. The patient’s condition has not yet been disclosed.

“We are aware of one person infected with listeriosis, matching the strain involved in the outbreak in France,” said Hélène Bonte of the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain.

Listeria is a bacterium that can cause severe foodborne illness, though infections are rare. It is most often found in chilled, ready-to-eat foods that are not cooked before consumption, such as soft cheeses made from raw milk, pre-packaged smoked fish, sliced deli meats and raw animal products.

Complete prevention impossible

Bonte stressed that Belgium maintains strict food safety controls, but complete prevention is impossible. “We do not live in a sterile environment. Bacteria are part of that, and they can enter our food,” she said.

Food producers must do everything possible to minimise the risk

“Food producers must do everything possible to minimise the risk, and they carry out many tests. Still, occasionally contaminated products may reach the shelves, in which case we issue recalls.”

The French outbreak, which has been traced to contaminated cheeses, has already claimed two lives this week. According to Sciensano, this is Belgium’s first case linked to the outbreak, although 62 listeriosis cases have been recorded in the country so far in 2025.