Tragedy strikes neighboring nation as Rewe & Co. hastily recalls cheese, claiming two lives.
In a concerning development, German health authorities have issued a nationwide recall of several batches of French soft cheeses contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This contamination has been linked to two deaths and 21 illnesses in France, as well as cases in other countries, including Germany.
The affected cheeses come from the French company Chavegrand and include varieties such as Camembert de caractère Vieux Porche, Camembert Charles VII, and Bûchette de Chèvre Vieux Porche. These cheeses were widely sold in German supermarkets across all federal states, including Bavaria.
The recall applies to all batches produced before June 23, 2025, with health mark FR 23.117.001 identifying contaminated products. German supermarket chains such as REWE carry these cheeses and participate in the recall.
Pregnant women, seniors, young children, and immunocompromised individuals are particularly at risk from the potentially severe listeriosis infection. Even in pregnant women without symptoms, the unborn child can be damaged, according to the official statement of the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).
Consumers are urged to monitor for symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which may appear up to eight weeks after consumption. They are also advised to check batch numbers carefully and return any potentially contaminated cheese to retailers without needing a receipt.
The affected federal states in Germany include Bavaria, Lower Saxony, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia.
The outbreak has prompted similar recalls and warnings in other countries receiving these cheeses, highlighting the broad distribution of the affected products. Consumers are encouraged to stay updated with announcements from local food safety authorities.
This development underscores the importance of vigilance and adherence to food safety guidelines, especially when it comes to high-risk food items like pasteurized soft cheeses. Those who have consumed the affected products and develop severe or persistent symptoms should seek medical help and mention a possible Listeria infection.
Sources: [1] Le Monde [2] RTL [3] Food Safety News [4] Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) [5] REWE website
- The health-and-wellness alert surrounding the recall of French soft cheeses contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes has sparked a need for increased vigilance in the science of food safety, particularly for high-risk food items like pasteurized soft cheeses.
- In light of the general-news report, it's crucial for German consumers to be aware of the link between listeriosis infections and the consumption of affected cheeses like Camembert de caractère Vieux Porche and Bûchette de Chèvre Vieux Porche, even though they are sold in lifestyle stores such as REWE.
- The ongoing listeria outbreak, as reported by sources such as Le Monde, RTL, Food Safety News, and the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), underscores the importance of staying informed about health-and-wellness issues related to food-and-drink products and actively following updates from local authorities for the overall well-being of vulnerable populations like pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals.
