Dung beetle led to Listeria cheese contamination

Dung beetle probably led to the contamination of the Harz cheese varieties

The Listeria contamination of the Harz-cheese varieties "Reinhardshof, Harz cheese" and "Reinhardshof, farm hand cheese with noble mold" came about according to the manufacturer Prolactal by an internal mistake. The supermarket chain "Lidl" had already withdrawn two types of cheese from the market in the past, because in individual examined samples an increased concentration of Listeria had been discovered. The Listeria bacteria cause the infectious disease listeriosis. The Austrian manufacturer Prolactal, Hartberg, supplied several trading companies, including Lidl Germany, as well as branches of other trading companies in Austria. Of the callback are in addition to those available at Lidl Germany in the past articles „Reinhardshof, Harz cheese 200g“ and „Reinhardshof, farmer's cheese with noble mold, 200g“ also affected other cheeses and brands in Austria. These are listed under www.prolactal.at.

In Austria, five people have died, according to the competent authorities, the connection between the Listeria infection and the consumption of Harz cheese from Prolactal is obvious. Lidl is out of the question here as a shopping center. The supermarket chain Lidl: "We have been informed by the competent authority that three deaths in Germany are due to the Harz cheese from Prolactal".

As the company Prolactal announced, was determined as a carrier of Listeria bacteria of dung beetle. Dung beetles were discovered in the first Listeria records in autumn 2009 on UV insect traps and on adhesive films. The beetles had come despite a closely meshed fly screen through a window in the production, so a message from the company. The protective cultures could have helped prevent the spread of the bacteria, but this protection had been eliminated by the accidental exchange of cultures. Protective cultures in cheese production are legally permitted preservatives in cheese production.

The public prosecutor's office in Graz, Austria, is investigating the producers of the "Reinhardshof" cheeses. The initial suspicion against the company Prolactal from Eastern Styria is "negligent homicide". (sb, 01.03.2010)

To read more:
Lidl warns about Listeria contaminated cheese
Lidl warns of two cheeses