Urgent Christmas cheese recall issued over listeria contamination fears

By Phoebe Cornish, Senior Lifestyle Reporter

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a recall for various popular cheeses due to fears of contamination with a potentially lethal bacteria (Image: Wicklow Cheese/ The Express)

Many dining tables this Christmas will feature a festive cheeseboard, but an urgent food recall could render some items inedible.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a recall for various popular cheeses due to fears of contamination with a potentially lethal bacteria.

Wicklow Farmhouse's cheeses, including brie and cheddar, sold in independent shops and Irish Aldi stores, have been flagged for the potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

This bacteria can cause listeriosis, leading to flu-like symptoms, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In rare instances, it can result in meningitis or life-threatening sepsis.

Elderly people, young children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of contracting serious listeriosis symptoms.

Various Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese products have been recalled (Image: Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese)

The brands implicated in the FSA food recall are Ballykilty Baking Brie, St Killian Cheese, Baking St Killian Cheese, Wicklow Ban, Wicklow Blue Brie, St Killians, Wicklow Farmhouse Cheddar Wedge, Wicklow Gold Tomato and Herb, and Drunken Saint.

These cheeses are sold across Ireland, with the recall affecting 150g portions of all use-by dates.

As stated by the FSA, the recall specifically impacts people in Northern Ireland. The agency urged: “If you have bought the above products do not eat them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund.”

It comes just days after several other Christmas dinner favourites were recalled over health concerns. The alarm was raised for cabbage and cooked meats sold in various supermarkets, plus various cheeses produced by Dunnes in Ireland.

The recall comes one year after a similar food recall last Christmas (Image: Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese)

According to the FSA, Dunne's cheese products were linked to similar fears of listeria contamination. Point of sale notices have been displayed in the retail stores in Northern Ireland selling the affected products.

Recalled Dunnes cheese products

• Dunnes Stores Wicklow Smoked Cheddar – 150g
• Dunnes Stores Wicklow Tomato & Herb Cheddar – 150g
• Dunnes Stores Wicklow Nettle & Chive Cheddar – 150g
• Dunnes Stores Wicklow Blue Brie – 150g
• Simply Better Irish Brie Cheese & Cranberry Quiche – 800g
• Simply Better Wicklow Ban in Ceramic Dish – 150g
• Simply Better Double Cream Wicklow Ban – 150g
• Simply Better Farmhouse Irish Cheese Selection – 735g
• Simply Better & Neven Maguire Cheese Selection – 705g

Last year, 177 cases of listeriosis were reported in England and Wales. This was an increase from the 124 recorded the previous year.

Of the cases reported in 2023, 32 were fatal, and one was directly linked to consuming contaminated cheese.

This recent cheese recall follows a similar incident last Christmas when several Mrs Kirkham brands of cheese sold in major supermarkets like Waitrose were recalled due to possible E. coli contamination.

Find more information on the latest food recalls with Express.co.uk's supermarket Christmas food recall roundup.