Two people have died and dozens more have been made seriously ill
Steven White and Josh Pennington Content editor
20:29, 19 Aug 2025
(Image: Getty Images)
Health officials have withdrawn potentially lethal soft cheese following two deaths linked to a listeria outbreak.
A further 21 people also became severely unwell in France, where the two fatalities occurred, after consuming bacteria-contaminated dairy products between December 2024 and August 13 of this year. Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have all confirmed four cases of listeriosis between April 14 and July 9.
Concerns are mounting that the infection may have reached the UK, though no connected cases have been documented at present. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) suspects that pasteurised soft cow’s and goat’s milk cheeses manufactured by French producer Chavegrand may be connected to the cases.
The firm has withdrawn all cheese batches produced before June 23, 2025. The items – all soft cheeses crafted from pasteurised cow’s milk or goat’s milk – were sold until August 9 in France alongside other nations, under various commercial brand names.
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They can be identified by the health mark FR 23.117. 001 – anyone who has purchased this specific cheese has been advised against consuming it, reports the Mirror.
A spokesperson for the company said: “We have increased the number of tests on products and equipment by a factor of 100 to ensure there were no contaminants All our employees, who have been working very hard since June, are stunned by this news.”
(Image: Getty Images)
French health authorities stated: “Anyone who has consumed [these cheeses] and experiences a fever, whether isolated or accompanied by headaches and body aches, should consult their doctor and inform them of their use.”
Symptoms of listeriosis can emerge up to eight weeks following consumption of contaminated food products.
Listeriosis symptoms
Listeriosis is an infection triggered by bacteria known as Listeria monocytogenes. It can produce the following symptoms, which typically persist for several days in most individuals.
Nevertheless, should they continue for an extended period, you’re recommended to request an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111.
Pregnant woman may also experience abdominal pain or observe reduced movement from their baby. Infants with listeriosis may display increased irritability and reduced feeding patterns.
Elderly individuals face heightened risks of developing severe illness from listeriosis, with the danger escalating with advancing age.
In the latest French cases, those impacted ranged from 34 to 95 years old – with 11 being women. Meanwhile, in the four additional countries reporting cases, patients were aged between 35 and 70.
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Despite listeria’s potential severity, the ECDC provided public reassurance that contamination of pasteurised soft cheese remains uncommon. The organisation declared: “For the population in good general health status, the overall risk is estimated to be very low,’ it stated.
“Given the long incubation time of listeriosis more vulnerable people such as pregnant women, elderly people and people with immune deficiency or underlying health conditions should pay attention to signs like fever or severe headache and seek medical advice without delay.”
According to the ECDC, contaminated products may been distributed in the following countries:
AlbaniaAndorraAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBurkina FasoCambodiaCanadaCzechiaCôte d’IvoireDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFrance, including French PolynesiaGermanyHong KongHungaryItalyJapanMadagascarMalaysiaMauritiusThe NetherlandsNew CaledoniaSingaporeSlovakiaSouth KoreaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUnited KingdomUnited States
Dining and Cooking