Waitrose & Partners No. 1 Lancashire cheese sold in 200g packets. It comes after four varieties of Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese were urgently recalled and given a ‘do not eat’ warning due to contamination fears
A type of cheese sold at Waitrose has been urgently recalled amid fears it could be contaminated with E. coli.
Safety officers urged the public not to consume the artisan’s Kirkham’s Lancashire No.1 product made from raw cow’s milk.
30 Britons have fallen ill in an E. coli outbreak linked to the Kirkham family dairy.
The manufacturer, based in a village just outside Preston, has since recalled all its products as a precaution.
Some may have unknowingly been gifted holiday packages, officials say.
Most strains of E. coli are harmless, but the type underlying the current outbreak can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach cramps.
In extremely severe cases, E. coli known to produce Shiga toxin can lead to kidney failure.
The Waitrose recall only affects Farmhouse Kirkham’s No.1 Lancashire cheese, which is sold in 200g packs for £4.60.
All affected items have an expiration date between October 30, 2023 and January 16, 2024.
Waitrose stressed that this was a “precautionary measure” and urged consumers to “thoroughly clean all surfaces, utensils and equipment that may have come into contact with the cheese”.
Customers are asked to take a photo of the packaging or receipt to get their money back and to discard the cheese.
The supermarket said: “We apologize that this product had to be recalled and for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
Symptoms range from mild to bloody diarrhoea, says the British health authority. Vomiting, fever and stomach cramps are other obvious symptoms. However, in severe cases, the pathogen can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.
The warning comes after four varieties of Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese were also urgently recalled and given a ‘do not eat’ warning due to contamination fears.
The joint warning from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) applied to the Creamy Lancashire, Lekker Lancashire, Mature Lancashire and Smoked Lancashire variants.
Heads of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced yesterday that 30 confirmed cases had been recorded in this outbreak.
They all tested positive for a specific strain called 0145, which is feared to lurk in the cheese.
STEC, or Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, is spread by eating contaminated foods such as raw leafy vegetables or undercooked meat.
The highly contagious bacteria can also be transmitted by touching infected animals or their faeces, as well as by contact with other sick people.
UKHSA bosses said people needed to take extra care to avoid becoming infected and, if infected with the virus, passing it on to others.
Amy Douglas, UKHSA incident director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety, said: “There are at least 30 confirmed cases of this particular STEC outbreak in the UK.”
“If you have diarrhea and vomiting, there are steps you can take to prevent it from spreading to family and friends during the holidays.”
“Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces can help prevent the spread of infection.” Do not prepare food for others if you have symptoms or for 48 hours after the symptoms have disappeared.
Ms Kirkham said: “While the FSA has not currently carried out any tests on our products to confirm any suspected risks, we believe it is our duty to recall our products.”
“We are working very closely with our local environment and health officers and the Food Standards Agency to fully understand the situation and determine whether our products have been sourced appropriately.”
“This recall involves new testing techniques designed to better identify potentially dangerous strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.”
“Unfortunately, these new testing techniques do not currently meet industry standards. As a result, the potential risk to product safety has not yet been recognized despite rigorous and thorough testing through our manufacturing processes.”
The statement also said the company is in limbo as many labs are currently closed for the holidays.
“We will suspend all orders until the investigation is complete and we have answers.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
