Tesco Urgently Recalls Food Product Due to Listeria Concerns
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a warning to customers who have purchased a specific Swiss cheese product from Tesco, advising them to return the item immediately due to concerns over Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The product in question is Le Superbe Raclette cheese, produced by Castelli UK Ltd.
According to the Daily Star, the FSA has sounded the alarm, warning customers that the cheese may contain harmful Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The symptoms of infection include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick, and diarrhoea. In extreme cases, Listeria infections can be life-threatening.
The Daily Star reported that the recall is limited to Tesco-bought cheese, and customers are advised to return the product to where it was purchased for a full refund. The FSA has also highlighted that certain groups are at a higher risk of Listeria infection, including those over 65 years old, pregnant women and their unborn babies, newborns under one month, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
The product details are as follows:
* Name: Le Superbe Raclette
* Pack size: 150g
* Best Before: May 12, 2025
The FSA warning reads: “Possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the above product. Symptoms caused by this organism can be similar to flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.”
Tesco has displayed notices in affected stores advising customers to return the cheese product. The Daily Star has confirmed that customers can contact 01732 835446 for more information.
Listeriosis is not usually serious for most people, but some individuals have a higher risk of serious problems, including pregnant women, newborn babies, people with weakened immune systems, and older people. According to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data, rare listeriosis infections were almost a fifth higher than levels before the pandemic, with 179 reported cases in England and Wales in 2024, including 28 deaths.
The infection is contracted by eating listeria-contaminated food, and the health agency explained that certain foods carry a higher risk, including soft cheeses, pate, smoked fish, chilled sliced meats, and other chilled ready-to-eat products. Symptoms normally include a fever, aches and pains, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, according to the NHS, but it can be life-threatening to the vulnerable.
As reported by the Daily Star, if there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product). The FSA issues Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued, providing local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers.
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