One person has died in an E. coli outbreak linked to cheese | UK News

Since July, 30 people have been sickened in England and Wales with a specific strain of the bacteria called Shiga toxin-producing E.coli, also known as STEC or VTEC.

The majority of confirmed cases have been in December, including patients as young as seven and as old as 71.

According to the MailOnline and the trade publication Food Safety News, citing public health officials, one person has died in the outbreak.

Disease and food chain experts have identified a link between some patients and unpasteurized cheeses.

Four of Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese products made using raw cow’s milk were recalled on Christmas Eve over fears the cheese ‘might’ contain the bacteria strain behind food poisoning.

Food safety officials asked anyone who has bought mild and creamy Lancashire, tasty Lancashire, mature Lancashire and/or smoked Lancashire to return them.

The Food Standards Agency warned that some people may have been given the products as Christmas presents, such as in a hamper or an individual block.

A fifth cheese, No.1 Farmhouse Kirkham’s Lancashire, was recalled by Waitrose yesterday.

The Lancashire-based cheesemonger has suspended all orders amid an investigation.

Amy Douglas, an incident director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: ‘There have been at least 30 confirmed cases of this specific outbreak strain of STEC in the UK.

‘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. Don’t prepare food for others if you have symptoms or for 48 hours after symptoms stop.’ 

Mrs Kirkham’s said on its website that it made the ‘difficult’ decision to recall all of its products purchased between October 1 and December 24.

Stressing it is a ‘precautionary’ move, the company said it is working with local environmental health officials and the FSA to ‘fully understand the situation’.

‘This recall relates to new testing techniques designed to better identify potentially dangerous strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli,’ the statement from Mrs Kirkhams said.

‘Unfortunately, these new testing techniques are not currently industry standard.

‘As a result, despite rigorous and thorough testing throughout our production processes, the potential risk to product safety was not previously identified.

‘We are now unfortunately in a state of limbo until testing laboratories reopen and resume testing. As soon as they do, together with the FSA we will investigate further.’

The UKHSA has been approached for comment.

This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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