Australia recalls a number of French cheeses (Photo No. 7)
A number of Australian retail chains have announced recalls of a range of cheese products, fearing contamination by Listeria monocytogenes.
The New State Food Administration (NSW Food Authority) has recommended to food company Washed Rind to recall a range of French-made cheese products in stores involving IGA supermarkets and independent retailers, according to Channel 7.
The six cheese products of the recall include: Saint Simeon 200g, Brie de Nangis 1kg, Le Vignelait Brillat Savarin 500g, Coulommiers Truffe 800g, Coulommiers Truffe 500g, Le Coulommiers 500g, and Brie de Brie Pasteurise 2.8kg, respectively. The warranty period for recall products is from April 8 to April 22.
The new state food administration says consumers should not eat recalled products if they buy them and return them to retail outlets for a full refund. Listeria can cause disease among pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and poor-immune residents.
The Australian and New Zealand Food Standards Agency has also issued a statement warning residents not to eat recalled cheese products.
So far, 19 people have been infected with Listeria monocytogenes in Australia this year and six people have died. Shepard (Vicky Sheppeard), director of infectious diseases at the New State Department of Health, said the incubation period for Listeria infection was as long as 70 days, and the number of infections was likely to rise.
It is reported that the current sale of cantaloupe in Australia has no risk of Listeria monocytogenes pollution, residents can safely buy.
