The health authorities have initiated the recall of several cheeses made from raw milk, manufactured by the company Route des Terroirs, following the detection of contamination by bacteria Escherichia coli (E.coli) in a daycare, according to a press release published Thursday, December 14.
Six cases of hemolytic and uremic syndrome (HUS) due to this bacteria were detected at the beginning of November in Toulouse, the affected children no longer causing concern, explains the document. This syndrome can result in kidney failure and is particularly dangerous for children and the elderly.
An investigation identified “converging epidemiological, microbiological and traceability elements, making the link between at least part of these cases of HUS and morbier cheeses produced by the Route des Terroirs company”, adds the press release. The authorities cannot “at this stage exclude other sources of contamination”.
New products “may be added”
The producer of these cheeses has initiated the withdrawal and recall of some of its products: morbier, tomme and raclette, produced until October 11 in a factory in Jura. In total, twenty-six types of products, marketed under various brands and forms, are mentioned on the government website “Consumer reminder” alerting you to dangerous products in circulation. Health authorities are asking people who have them not to consume them.
New products “are likely to be added in the coming days because these cheeses are large pieces which could have been cut, sliced, assembled by other companies further downstream in the marketing chains”specified the Ministry of Agriculture.
The health approval of the manufacturing site has also been suspended and it can no longer produce until this suspension has been lifted.
In 2022, two children died from HUS and dozens of others became seriously ill after ingesting pizzas from Buitoni’s Fraîch’Up range, manufactured in its factory in Caudry (North).