Recall Listeria bacteria in Gorgonzola

Manufacturer calls Gorgonzola cheese due to a bacterial discovery from the trade

20/04/2011

The cheese manufacturer Rabe & Freund calls the Gorgonzola cheese with the name „Cascine di Campagna“ back from the trade. The type of cheese is distributed mainly through the supermarket chain Netto. Consumers are requested to return the goods for a refund of the purchase price.

The dairy company Rabe & Freund calls the cheese variety Gorgonzola with the brand name „Cascine di Campagna“ back from the trade. In one batch, the pathogen listeria was discovered, which may cause the dangerous infectious disease listeriosis.

Cheese was distributed in four federal states
The Gorgonzola was distributed in supermarkets of the chain Netto Marken-Discount. According to the company, the bacteria were tested in a routine Gorgonzola D.O.P. Dolce, 200g, the brand „Cascine di Campagna“ demonstrated. After the test results became known, the branches of the chain have responded to their own information immediately and taken the offending cheese immediately from the range. As a precautionary measure, all batches and best before dates are recalled. Ostensibly affected by the recall are the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. Consumers who already use the gorgonzola cheese „Cascine di Campagna“ should not eat the product, but bring it back to the supermarket. On presentation of the receipt, the purchase price is refunded without hesitation, as it was said.

Danger to people with weakened immune systems
Dangerous can be especially for chronically ill people, the elderly, pregnant women and children. The bacterial strains of the genus Listeria can cause the disease listeriosis. Listeriosis, the infectious disease caused by Listeria, usually affects people with weakened immune systems, old people, pregnant women and their unborn children and newborns. The condition is - depending on which organs are affected - extremely different. Very often, patients suffer from sudden diarrhea, abdominal pain, and flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches. However, meningitis and, in pregnant women, abortions or premature births can result in complications. In addition, local wound infection or inflammation of the connective and cornea are possible consequences of listeriosis. Conventionally, illness can be treated well with antibiotics. However, due to mostly unspecific disease symptoms, an infection is recognized late, because a connection to the consumption of contaminated food can hardly be established. For healthy adults, infection is usually rather harmless. Most patients do not notice the virus and the infection is without symptoms and complications. (Sb)

Image: Paul-Georg Meister