Two fatalities in France linked to recalled cheese incident
In recent news, an outbreak of listeria has been reported in France, with at least 21 cases confirmed and 2 deaths. The outbreak has also been detected in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, with cases linked to the same strain of Listeria monocytogenes.
The source of the outbreak has been identified as soft cheeses, specifically Camembert, chèvre, and Crémeux, produced by the French company Chavegrand. These cheeses were made from pasteurized cow’s and goat’s milk and were distributed widely across France and internationally. The cheeses bear the health mark FR 23.117.001 CE/UE, making them easily identifiable.
The affected cheeses were sold at major retailers like Leclerc, Carrefour, and Auchan until they were recalled on August 9, 2025. The investigation into the outbreak is being conducted by Santé Publique France, the National Listeria Reference Centre at Institut Pasteur, and national health authorities.
Listeria is particularly dangerous because it can grow at refrigeration temperatures, allowing it to multiply even in refrigerated soft cheeses. This contributes to delayed outbreak detection since symptoms can appear up to 8 weeks after consumption. Vulnerable groups, such as pregnant people, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems, are at the highest risk for severe outcomes such as meningitis or death.
Anyone who has purchased these cheeses from the batches produced before June 23, 2025, is strongly advised not to consume them and to follow recall instructions. The French Ministry of Agriculture is investigating a possible connection between the illnesses and deaths and the consumption of these recalled cheeses.
It is important to note that the type of listeria infection causing the illnesses and deaths is not specified. However, the warning is specifically for certain groups: pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
References:
[1] France Info. (2025). Listeria: une contamination de fromage à l'origine de l'épidémie en France. Retrieved from https://www.franceinfo.fr/sante/listeria-une-contamination-de-fromage-a-l-origine-de-l-epidemie-en-france
[2] Santé Publique France. (2025). Listeria: épidémie en France, épidémiologie et suivi. Retrieved from https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/actualites/listeria-epidemie-en-france-epidemiologie-et-suivi
[3] Institut Pasteur. (2025). Listeria: épidémie en France, épidémiologie et suivi. Retrieved from https://www.pasteur.fr/fr/actualites/listeria-epidemie-en-france-epidemiologie-et-suivi
[4] European Food Safety Authority. (2025). Listeria monocytogenes: alert for soft cheese from France. Retrieved from https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2025.EN-1664
[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Listeria. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/index.html
- The recent Listeria outbreak in France, linked to soft cheeses, underscores the importance of maintaining a comprehensive understanding of food-and-drink safety, particularly in the health-and-wellness sector, as pathogens like Listeria can cause serious illnesses and even death.
- As the investigation into the outbreak continues, it's crucial for individuals within vulnerable groups, such as pregnant people, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems, to consider nutrition and lifestyle choices carefully, including avoiding certain foods like soft cheeses, to minimize risks.
- The rapid spread of the outbreak across Europe raises concerns about the general-news implications, not only for affected countries but also for the entire health-and-wellness industry at large, emphasizing the need for stringent food-and-drink safety regulations.
