Health bosses have warned Scots not to eat a brand of soft cheese after a Listeria death in the UK.
The British person died after eating cheese contaminated with Listeria, the Mirror reports.
Health bosses have now ordered the recall of a type of cheese containing 'exceptionally high levels' of the bacteria.
The Baronet semi-soft cheeses are reported to have become contaminated with "exceptionally high levels" of listeria, . It is produced by The Old Cheese Room, a company based in Wiltshire, and three cases of listeria have been linked to the foodstuff by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Along with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the UKHSA has warned the public not to eat the cheeses if they have it at home. It is subject to a recall.
Baronet is a pasteurised cheese with a pinkish-orange rind and a signature pungent smell. It is sold in both small individual rounds and as 1kg wheels which are often cut down at deli counters. People are advised to contact the retailer they bought the cheese from to confirm whether their batch is affected – and in the meantime should not eat it.
Ingesting listeria bacteria can lead to flu-like symptoms including high temperature, muscle aches and pains, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.
Tina Potter, FSA head of incidents, said: "Due to this outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, we are urging consumers who are vulnerable to Listeria infection - including people who are pregnant and people with weakened immune systems to ensure they follow the advice in the product recall notices, which details all of the products which may pose a risk.
"We are also asking people to make sure that elderly relatives who may have purchased the recalled items, and who are at particular risk, are aware of the recall and observe the advice."
Richard Elson, head of incidents and response at the UKHSA, added: "Listeriosis is a rare infection and most people will only experience mild symptoms such as abdominal pain or diarrhoea, which usually pass within a few days without the need for treatment. But people with weakened immune systems, who are pregnant, or are infants or elderly are at greater risk of developing severe symptoms."
Some foods carry a greater risk of listeria than others. These include soft cheeses, pate, smoked fish, chilled sliced meats and other chilled ready to eat products.
Anyone who does fall ill with symptoms of listeriosis is advised to follow advice on the NHS website and to report their illness to their local authority.
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