Huge supermarket recalls MORE  cheese over deadly E. coli fears – & Brits are warned ‘you might now know you own some’

ANOTHER cheese recall from major supermarkets has sparked further warnings over deadly E. coli fears.

Brits have been issued a fresh alert from the Food Standards Agency over selected items purchased on or prior to February 5 following an investigation sparked in December last year.

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Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese Ltd has recalled various Lancashire Cheese products because they could harbour Shiga-toxin producing E. coli.

It comes after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) told The Sun Online how one person sadly died following an outbreak of the disease at the end of last year.

They are understood to be from Scotland but no further information was released.

At least 30 people aged between seven and 31 have fallen ill so far as investigations into the artisan cheese continue.

It has been warned the affected cheeses include cut-to-order from a deli counter, and prepacked pieces.

The recalled products may have also been within in a Christmas hamper or been sold as part of a charcuterie grazing platter, according to the FSA.

Recalled cheeses:

• Mrs Kirkham’s Tasty Lancashire – all sizes – all dates up to an including February 5, 2024.
• Mrs Kirkham’s Mature Lancashire – all sizes – all dates up to an including February 5, 2024.
• Mrs Kirkham’s Smoked Lancashire – all sizes – all dates up to an including February 5, 2024.
• No 1 Waitrose and Partners, Farmhouse Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese -all sizes – all dates up to an including February 5, 2024 (no long available on Waitrose website).

RISK STATEMENT

An urgent announcement from the FSA read: “The products listed above might be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, (STEC).

“Symptoms caused by STEC organisms include severe diarrhoea (including bloody diarrhoea), abdominal pain, and sometimes haemolytic uremic syndrome, (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal.”

ADVICE

The FSA urged any customers who have bought these cheeses not to eat them.

It is also advised to keep the products thoroughly wrapped and away from other food.

Wash your hands and anything that comes in contact with the cheese.

Shoppers will also be entitled a full refund.

Amy Douglas, Incident Director for Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety Division at UKHSA, said: “There have been at least 30 confirmed cases of this specific outbreak strain of STEC in the UK.

“Symptoms of STEC include severe diarrhoea (including bloody diarrhoea), stomach cramps, vomiting and fever.

“If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing it on to family and friends over the festive period.

“Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will help stop infections from spreading.

“Do not return to work or school once term restarts, until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped.”

What is E.coli?

Escherichia coli is a type of bacteria common in human and animal intestines.

While most types of E.coli are harmless some can cause serious food poisoning and infection.

E.coli bacteria is a common cause of cystitis – an infection of the bladder.

Some types of E.coli can cause gastrointestinal infections.

As the bacteria can survive outside of the body, its levels serve as a measure of general hygiene and faecal contamination of an environment.

A common mode of infection is by eating food that is contaminated with the bacteria.