Two people have died from eating infected soft cheese after a worldwide outbreak.
A total of 21 people have fallen ill and two people have lost their lives after eating the unnamed soft cheese that experts warn has been contaminated with a deadly bacteria.
The affected people fell poorly after consuming the cheese between December 2024 and August 13 this year, which is contaminated with Listeria.
Listeria is a bacteria that can contaminate many foods including cold cuts, soft dairy, seafood and salads and can result in Listeriosis - a rare infection that can make some people seriously ill - in particular vulnerable people and the elderly.
Symptoms include a high temperature, aches, pains, chills, vomiting, feeling sick, and diarrhoea.
French investigators say they have traced the outbreak back to "a specific French cheese manufacturer producing pasteurised soft cow's and goat's milk cheeses" but have not named the brand.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) say they are investigating, but have warned the outbreak does not only affect France, as the cheese has been delivered to a number of other countries to be sold, including the UK.
These are:
Listeria is not thought to be dangerous for the majority of healthy adults and children, and could result in fever, muscle aches and diarrhoea.
But it can be very dangerous for those with compromised immune systems, and pregnant people - in extreme cases causing miscarriage or stillbirth.
In the French cases, those affected were aged between 34 and 95 and 11 of them were women.
In the other four countries, people between the ages of 35 and 70 were affected.
The ECDC said: "Contamination of pasteurised soft cheese is a rare event.
“Most people infected with listeria will experience light forms of gastroenteritis, but pregnant, older or immunocompromised people should pay attention to signs like fever or severe headache and seek medical advice without delay.”
The ECDC said the contaminated cheeses have been recalled, saying: "The food safety authorities of the countries concerned by the food distribution are implementing official control measures, including the issue of public warnings.”
