Dozens Infected and Two Dead After Cheese Consumption... France, Proud of Its Cheese, in Turmoil

21 Suspected Listeria Cases Reported Nationwide
Produced on Closed Production Line... Distributed Overseas

Approximately 40 types of cheese products in France have been urgently recalled due to concerns over potential Listeria contamination.

On August 15, Yonhap News, citing the daily Le Figaro, reported that the French Public Health Agency (SPF) announced on the 13th (local time) that 21 suspected cases of Listeria infection had been reported nationwide. Among these, two people are reported to have died.

Listeria is a bacterium capable of surviving in cold and refrigerated environments, and is primarily transmitted through dairy products, meat, and fish. Infection can cause initial symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and diarrhea, and in severe cases, it can lead to life-threatening complications including sepsis and meningitis. The fatality rate is particularly high among the elderly, pregnant women, and infants with weakened immune systems, so special caution is required.

One of the cheeses recalled due to the potential contamination with Listeria bacteria. Screenshot from the French health authorities' X (formerly Twitter).

An epidemiological investigation by health authorities revealed that cheese produced at a dairy plant located in Chavegrand, central France, was linked to the infections. As a result, a recall order was issued for approximately 40 types of cheese, including Camembert, cream cheese, and goat cheese, manufactured at the facility. Authorities strongly advised consumers to immediately stop consuming the affected products.

The cheese manufacturer stated in an official statement, "We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected," and explained that the recalled products were made on an old production line that was shut down in early June. The company added that the facility now operates with a new production line under strict supervision by authorities.

A representative from the French Ministry of Agriculture also emphasized, "The cheese currently being sold is produced and distributed under strict quality control by producers and regulatory agencies, and undergoes high-level microbiological testing every day."

Meanwhile, the affected cheeses have reportedly been distributed not only through major French supermarkets such as Carrefour, Aldi, and Norma, but also to overseas markets. According to China's Xinhua News Agency, the Singapore Food Agency has also decided to recall the French cheese in question.