UK: camembert cheese recalled in E-coli scare

A dangerous strain of E-coli is feared to have contaminated camembert cheese sold by more than a 100 British retailers, including supermarket chain Waitrose, said the country's food watchdog late Monday.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the cheeses that may contain the pathogen, E-coli O26, were being withdrawn. It said the strain can cause severe food poisoning if eaten.

All batches of the following cheeses were affected: Reaux's Gaslonde Camembert (250g packs); Camembert de Normandie Th. Reaux (250g packs); Reaux's Gaslonde Camembert 1 kg (normally sold over the cheese counter).

The cheeses are made in France by Laiterie Fromagerie du Val d'Ay-Etablissement REAUX and are distributed in the UK by Anthony Rowcliffe & Son.

The FSA said Rowcliffe had contacted all retailers involved and was arranging warning notices in shops and newspaper adverts.

All the cheeses involved were unpasteurised, and this may re-ignite the on-going debate about the safety of such products. Australia only recently lifted its ban on France's unpasteurised Roquefort cheese after claiming for years it was unsafe.