While E. coli bacteria were detected in two farms, ten tonnes of reblochons, potentially contaminated, were recalled Friday 22nd June. The details.
Major progress in the investigation of the contaminated reblochon : the Escherichia Coli O26 bacterium , which has made children sick, has been detected in two dairy farms suppliers Chabert establishments, where investigations will however continue.
“As a precautionary measure, a new recall-withdrawal is being carried out today by the company Chabert,” added the Ministry of Agriculture, which announced, together with the cheese, this progress in the investigation.
Suspicious death of a child
The number of patients has not changed since June 15th, 2018, date of the last update by Public Health France.
That day, the health surveillance agency had indicated that the “same strain of E. coli O26 “sickened 12 children, all of whom had consumed reblochon, including one who died , but did not formally attribute the death of this child to cheese.
“There is a high probability that these two farms could have been the producers of the milk that made reblochons” that made the children sick, “but we can not say it with certainty,” AFP told Loïc. Evain, Deputy Director General of DGAL (Directorate of Food), which reports to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Further analysis must be conducted to ensure that it is the same strain.
The lots concerned
In May and June, Chabert recalled all cheeses that may have been contaminated with Escherichia coli, first in France, then in Germany and Spain.
The new incriminated lots concern whole milk PDO Reblochon raw milk cheeses sold under the brand names:
- Campaign of France,
- Chabert “The Cervens”,
- The Glières,
- House of Gourmets.
These lots are sold in the following brands, with the stamp FR 74. 303.050 CE with red casein pellet:
- U system,
- Casino,
- Carrefour,
- Cora/Match,
Another lot is semi-cheese PDO Reblochon milk cheese raw milk sold under brands:
- Alps
- Auchan Mmm!
- Chabert
- Reflections of France
- Flavor of our regions
- Net
- Terrier
These lots are sold at the following banners, with the stamp FR 74.289.050 CE with red casein pellet. :
- Aldi,
- Auchan,
- Carrefour,
- Casino,
- U system,
- Intermarché
- Lidl.
A toll free number is open to consumers seven days a week from 9am to 8pm on 0800.94.52.35 . The company Chabert indicates in a statement:
“All cheese production from the first farm identified as contaminated has been removed from the market in previous recalls. The second breeding concerned, leads the company to proceed, as a precautionary measure, to a complementary withdrawal-reminder. The milk of these two farms is excluded from any manufacture of raw milk cheeses.”
Farms “under close surveillance”
This second breeding provided another plant than that of Cruseilles (Haute-Savoie), in this case in the neighboring town of Villaz (Haute-Savoie), from April 3rd to 30th.
The subject of the recall announced this Friday concerns about 10 tons of cheese, which adds to the 329 tons already potentially affected by the previous recall, but of which only a small part has probably been affected, according to Mr. Evain.
“Since the general recall and recall operation of May 14th, all 28 dairy supply farms for the manufacture of reblochon at the Cruseilles plant (Haute-Savoie) have been placed under enhanced surveillance”, indicated AFP Mr. Evain.
“We can not rule out,” according to Mr. Evain, that E. coli O26 bacteria is found in other farms.
“The 28 farms are sampled every day,” said Mr. Evain, who notes that the discovery in the second breeding is quite recent, “while the crisis is already a few weeks.”
The 28 farms supplying Chabert “remain under close surveillance”, assured Mr. Evain, according to which the two farms affected by the bacteria “will undergo a thorough health audit”.
Since the beginning of the crisis, in mid-May, all farms continue to supply Chabert, who makes milk, but thermised milk, and therefore no raw milk cheeses, the ministry said. .
In general, the health authorities point out that raw milk and raw milk cheeses should not be eaten by young children; baked pressed cheese (Emmental type, Comté, etc.), processed cheese and pasteurized cheese are preferred.
